• Maharashtra Badlapur sexual abuse: Sharad Pawar, MVA leaders hold silent protest in Pune, wear black bands

    National
    Maharashtra Badlapur sexual abuse: Sharad Pawar, MVA leaders hold silent protest in Pune, wear black bands
    The protest was sparked by the alleged sexual abuse of two young kindergarten girls by a male attendant at a local school in Thane district...

    Digital Desk: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, accompanied by other leaders and workers from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), recently participated in a silent protest against a disturbing incident in Badlapur district. The protest was sparked by the alleged sexual abuse of two young kindergarten girls by a male attendant at a local school in Thane district. This grievous incident has not only outraged the community but has also drawn sharp criticism from political leaders, particularly from the opposition parties.

    During the protest, Pawar and his colleagues wore black bands on their arms as a symbol of mourning and solidarity. He expressed profound dismay at the Maharashtra government's handling of the case, accusing the Eknath Shinde-led administration of failing in its duty to ensure the safety of women and children. Pawar criticized the state government for its perceived insensitivity and accused it of prioritizing political gains over addressing serious crimes.

    "The Badlapur incident has tainted the image of Maharashtra across the country," Pawar declared, invoking the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji, the revered Maratha king known for his strict measures against crimes committed against women.

    The situation escalated earlier in the week when the shocking allegations triggered large-scale protests in Badlapur. Thousands of demonstrators blocked roads and railway tracks, leading to clashes with police forces. In response to the incident and rising concerns over crime against women, the MVA called for a state-wide bandh (shutdown) on August 24.

    However, the Bombay High Court intervened, issuing a restraint order against the bandh. The court's decision, which deemed such general strikes unconstitutional, led the MVA to retract their bandh call. Eknath Shinde, the Chief Minister, supported the court's directive, emphasizing that enforcing a bandh would disrupt daily life and hinder public services.

    In contrast, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray criticized the court's ruling, suggesting that the judiciary should prioritize swift justice for victims of such heinous crimes. The police have also issued notices to MVA leaders regarding the bandh call, further highlighting the contentious nature of the response to the Badlapur incident.