During a party gathering on Saturday, Om Prakash Rajbhar – cabinet minister from Uttar Pradesh for Backward Class Welfare and for Divyangjan (physically challenged persons) Empowerment – warned parents in Ballia, UP, that he would lock them up in police stations for five days if they failed to send their children to school.

The video (above) even shows the minister exchanging laughs with the men behind him as he issues his warning. At one point Rajbhar invoked the Ramayana, comparing the situation to that of Ram as he attempted to rescue Sita from Lanka. Just like Ram was compelled to pick up weapons, “stern steps are required against parents unwilling to send their kids to school,” he asserted, stating that he was ready to be hanged to ensure implementation.

PTI reported that in spite of the controversy evoked by his statement, which went viral on social media, Rajbhar stood by his speech. He said, “I stick to my statement. What wrong am I saying if I am threatening to send them to jail? Why are they not sending children to schools when the government is providing all facilities for education?”