‘We thrashed those women in order to bring them on right path’, Pramod Muthalik's shocking defence on 2009 Mangalore pub attack

Hubli/New Delhi: Shi Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik whose entry into the saffron party was stalled even before he could officially join it is notorious for being instrumental in an attack on a pub in Mangalore in 2009. The controversial leader on Monday defended his party and himself and said that thrashing women was wrong but the intention behind the incident was right. Speaking to a TV news channel Muthalik said, “Our sisters were beaten up, that was not right. But we had to bring them on the right path.” “There is a case against me, I went to jail for 15 days. Raking up that issue now is not right,” added Sri Ram Sene chief. In a dramatic move, the Bjp on Sunday announced the induction of Muthalik in Hubli and forced him to quit barely five hours after that. The decision was taken following instructions of BJP president Rajnath Singh. Sources in BJP said Muthalik's inclusion was defered due to opposition expressed by Goa BJP chief minister Manohar Parrikar and other leaders of BJP. "Criticism of opposition parties has also forced us to take back the decision," they said. 51-year-old Muthalik had shot into limelight after activists of his right-wing outfit had barged into the pub in Mangalore in 2009 and assaulted youngsters — women and men — after accusing them of behaving in an "obscene manner". Muthalik, who was arrested after the incident, had apologised for the violence but claimed that their actions were "aimed at protecting the women".