Celibate priests ask women scribes to move back at Maha CM Fadnavis function

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday landed himself in a controversy — seemingly unwittingly — after presiding over a function where female journalists were told not to sit on seats reserved for journalists.

The incident happened at Swami Narayan temple in Dadar where Fadnavis was to be felicitated for his decision to ban cow slaughter in the state at a function organised by the Shree Santracruz Jain Tapagachh Sangh.

Before the start of the event and before Fadnavis reached the venue, the temple authorities told female journalists to be seated some rows behind the seats reserved for journalists since their sect observes a strict form of celibacy.

The discrimination prompted calls for the chief minister to boycott the function.

However, a few minutes later Fadnavis walked in and took part in the function, seemingly unaware of the fracas that preceded his arrival.