New Delhi: Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade sparked a controversy Monday, suggesting forced castration for rapists as a deterrent to sexual offences while drawing a parallel with dog population control in his home state of Maharashtra.
At a district bar association oath-taking ceremony in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur, Governor Bagade said, “In Maharashtra, there was a Nagar Panchayat, where the number of dogs was increasing. They were castrated, and their numbers decreased. A similar law should be made for rapists. They should be rendered impotent and left alone. They should not be allowed to marry.”
Governor Bagade’s call for castration is not an isolated remark. In recent weeks, he has repeatedly flagged incidents of rape and “religious conversion” in Rajasthan in what seems to be an indirect critique of the BJP-led state government, its perceived failure to maintain law and order, and the lack of toughness in dealing with perpetrators.
Governor Bagade last month referenced the physical torture of rapists in the era of Maratha icon Shivaji while expressing frustration over the rising incidents of sexual assault in Rajasthan. “There was a fear of the law then. Today, it is unclear whether criminals fear the law at all,” he said. He also questioned why sexual exploitation of children continued unabated despite the death penalty for such crimes.
On another occasion in February, Governor Bagade called for public punishment of rapists, bypassing police procedures, to instil fear. “People often record videos of the harassment of women, but that is not the solution. Catch the perpetrator, and two to four people should beat him on the spot,” he said. He also advocated for promoting brotherhood and sisterhood in schools and colleges to foster a sense of unity and respect.
The slew of comments by Governor Bagade comes at a time when Rajasthan is reeling from the 8 March rape of a pregnant Dalit woman by a police constable in front of her three-year-old child in the Sanganer constituency of Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.
Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot raised the incident in the state assembly, rebuking the state. “This incident on Women’s Day highlights the pathetic state of law and order in Rajasthan. It is shameful that while the BJP government was busy with the glitz of the IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) Awards, such a heinous crime happened.”
In 2023, the BJP displaced the previous government led by Gehlot, with criticisms such as its handling of law and order.
Governor Bagade’s calls for public beating
After the Vijay Nagar blackmailing case in Rajasthan’s Ajmer, which involved the exploitation of several minor Hindu girls, Governor Bagade expressed his frustration at a girls’ school programme in Jhunjhunu on 24 February.
Just a week after the incident came to light, he urged citizens to take immediate action against rapists rather than waiting for police intervention. He assured the public that no harm would come to those who take the law into their own hands in such situations. “If anyone looks at you with ill intentions, respond with bricks and stones. Beat them,” Governor Bagade said.
He questioned the targeting of the girls associated with a Hindu organisation in Ajmer, asking: “Is it a sin to belong to a particular religion? If people are targeted for joining a Hindu organisation, we will not remain silent.”
The Governor also made indirect references to “religious conversions”, hinting at historical fears that allegedly made some people leave Hinduism. “Rajasthan has always been a land of heroes. Those who were scared converted to other religions, but those who stood firm remain Hindus today,” he said.
He emphasised the significance of the saffron colour, saying it represented power, sacrifice, civilisation and bravery. He also claimed women had always been revered in Indian culture.
Addressing a college convocation ceremony in Alwar the same month, Governor Bagade reiterated his call for immediate action. “We read about such cases in the newspapers every day. If someone misbehaves, slap them, hit them with slippers—nothing will happen to you … If you wait for the police, another woman might be murdered. ,” he said. “Our mentality must change.”
Governor Bagade’s remarks reflect the growing frustration over the rising crimes against women in Rajasthan. His comments align with concerns raised by several organisations, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). In this context, VHP regional minister Suresh Upadhyay last week criticised the previous Gehlot government and the current Bhajan Lal administration for their handling of alleged love jihad and land jihad cases.
Citing the 2024 Bhilwara incident, where Muslims allegedly pelted stones at a religious procession in response to inflammatory remarks, Upadhyay said, “I see little difference between the two governments. The officers remain the same; they act according to their priorities.”
Also Read: Rajasthan’s elderly are victims of ‘digital murder’. eKYC gaps leave lakhs without pension
Rising crimes against women
In recent months, Rajasthan has been shaken by a series of high-profile crimes against women, raising serious concerns.
The Vijay Nagar blackmailing case was followed by multiple incidents in March, including two separate gang rape incidents in Tonk and Bhilwara.
In Tonk, six men allegedly blackmailed and raped a Dalit minor. The police have arrested only five accused so far. Four of them—minors—are in a juvenile home, and another, who is older, is behind bars.
Another disturbing case emerged in Bhilwara. A girl was allegedly raped not only by the main accused but also by his friend, who allegedly forced her to convert. The case sparked widespread outrage, with several Hindu outfits calling for a bandh.
Some BJP leaders have defended Governor Bagade’s comments. BJP spokesperson Laxmi Kant Bhardwaj told ThePrint, “The Governor has the right to speak on social issues. As the guardian of the state, he is expressing his views on handling such crimes in society.”
The Opposition has, meanwhile, been targeting the state government for not addressing the deteriorating law and order situation. “There is no fear of the law among offenders. Every day, a new case of crime against women is reported. The state’s law and order have completely collapsed. Even the Governor is frustrated after seeing the daily reports of rape and molestation,” Congress spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi told ThePrint.
Other controversial comments
Governor Bagade has often landed in controversies for his remarks, which can go beyond how law and order works or are exaggerated historical claims.
Last week, he made headlines by claiming Vedic texts mentioned the theory of gravity long before Isaac Newton’s discovery. At the convocation of IGNOU’s regional centre, Bagade said, “India gave the decimal system to the world. Newton explained the theory of gravity much later; it already was mentioned in Vedic texts.”
He also claimed that Rig Veda mentioned inventions such as electricity and planes and that NASA, 50 years ago, sought a book on planes by Maharshi Bharadwaj.
The 79-year-old began his political career as an RSS pracharak and contested his first election from the Aurangabad seat in 1985. He became a cabinet minister in the BJP-Shiv Sena government led by then-chief minister Manohar Joshi in 1995, holding horticulture and food supply portfolios.
The next milestone in his career came in 2014 when he became Maharashtra assembly Speaker under the previous tenure of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Known as “Nana” and regarded as a prominent BJP face in rural Maharashtra, Bagade earned a reputation for his tough stance on issues, such as the declining number of sitting days in the assembly.
As Speaker, he also stirred a controversy with his remarks on party discipline: “Only workers can stop murderers and madmen from joining the party. But now, anyone can join and be rewarded with a position … Earlier, we carefully considered whom to include and whom to give positions, much like selecting a suitable groom for our daughters.”
Reflecting his penchant for provocative remarks, Governor Bagade’s recent statements have, once again, put him in a spot. As Rajasthan grapples with crimes against women, his remarks will continue to fuel debates.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
