BJP MLA’s remarks on Hindu girls and gyms draw sharp criticism

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Gopichand Padalkar, who represents the Jat constituency in Maharashtra, has triggered controversy following remarks made during a public gathering in the State’s Beed district on Thursday, where he urged Hindu college-going girls to avoid gyms and instead practise yoga at home.

Mr. Padalkar claimed that gyms pose a hidden threat, referring to what he called a “big conspiracy” without naming any specific group.

“It is my earnest request to Hindu girls and women not to go to gyms where you don’t know who the trainer is. All these gyms are a big racket you are not aware of. Better you perform yoga at home. I request you all with folded hands and kneeling before you on my legs, please listen to me and do not go to gym. You don’t know the backgrounds of these gym trainers and staff, verify before going there,” he said.

While he did not explicitly mention any community in his reference to “they,” he alluded to so-called “love jihad” cases, claiming that “the jihadi mindset is targeting the young and innocent Hindu girls by befriending them at the gym”.

The MLA from Jat in Sangli district also called for increased vigilance on college campuses, suggesting that youth entering without proper identification should be restricted. “We need to create a strong deterrence,” he said.

His comments have drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups, opposition leaders, and social media users, who accused him of promoting communal division and moral policing under the guise of protecting women.

Earlier this year, Mr. Padalkar faced protests from Christian groups over alleged inflammatory remarks about religious conversions and purported monetary incentives offered to missionaries.