BJP leader Pragya Thakur sparked outrage over the weekend after urging parents to beat children visiting the houses of ‘non-believers’. The controversial politician also insisted that it was necessary for daughters to “obey the values” rather than exercising free will to marry into other religions. The remarks have since sparked political backlash — with the Congress accusing BJP of ‘spreading hatred’.
Thakur had delivered the controversial remarks during a recent event — noting that congratulations abounded when daughters were born into a family as welcomed as ‘Lakshmi or Saraswati entering the home’. But these same girls, She contended, grew up to become “mianin”.
“Strengthen your mind, and make it so strong that if our daughter does not obey us, if she goes to a non-believer’s house, leave no stone unturned in considering breaking her legs. Those who do not obey the values and do not listen to their parents must be punished. If you have to beat your children for their well-being, do not step back. When parents carry out such acts, it is for the good future of their children; they do not let them die by being cut into pieces,” she can be heard saying in the video.
Thakur also stressed the need to “be more vigilant” towards girls who refused to follow rules or listen to their parents and remained “ready to run away from home”. She suggested a variety of measures to ensure children did not leave home — by “beating, explaining to them, calming them down, loving or scolding them”.
