Mumbai, Aug 25: In response to the recent sexual assaults on minor girls in Badlapur, Maharashtra witnessed widespread protests led by Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. A day after calling off a statewide bandh following a Bombay High Court order, key leaders from the opposition, including Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Nana Patole, Supriya Sule, and Balasaheb Thorat, organized demonstrations across the state, expressing their outrage and demanding justice, reported the Hindustan Times.
Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray spearheaded the protest at Shiv Sena Bhavan in central Mumbai’s Dadar, while other leaders, such as NCP’s Sharad Pawar and Congress’s Mohan Joshi, braved the morning rain to stage a silent protest in Pune. Demonstrators, wearing black ribbons as a symbol of protest, vowed to stand against atrocities committed against women.
During the protest, Thackeray criticized the Maharashtra state government for allegedly supporting the accused rather than taking action against them. He stated, “Instead of acting against the accused, the state government is supporting them. Maharashtra has never seen such a shameless government.”
Thackeray also highlighted the need for the President to expedite the clearance of the Shakti Bill, a crucial legislation aimed at ensuring the safety and security of women. “I urge the President, who is also a woman, to remove the dust on the file of the Shakti Bill and clear it now,” he said.
Responding to accusations that the protests were politically motivated, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said, “The government is saying that the opposition is doing politics. Calling it politics shows how insensitive the government is.”
Sena MP Sanjay Raut defended their call for the bandh, stating, “Our call for the bandh was constitutional, and people have the right to raise their voice against atrocities.” He also expressed disappointment over the court’s decision to deem the bandh unconstitutional without addressing the alleged unconstitutionality of the current state government.
In a counter-protest, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also staged demonstrations in various parts of the state, demanding a speedy trial and strict punishment for those responsible for the Badlapur assaults. State Housing Minister Atul Save led the BJP’s protest in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, emphasizing the need for the case to be handled in a fast-track court.
Other significant protests took place in Thane, Nagpur, and Sangamner, where opposition leaders continued to press for action and accountability in the wake of the horrific incidents in Badlapur.
