'Maharashtra Bandh Not A Political Move': Uddhav Thackeray On Badlapur Sex Abuse Case
The MVA bloc called for the Maharashtra bandh on August 24 to demand action in the Badlapur school assault case. Uddhav Thackeray emphasized that the focus of the protest will be on women's safety.
There is no political motive behind the bandh called by the Opposition's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) bloc on August 24 in Maharashtra, said Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday. The MVA called the bandh on Saturday to protest against the alleged sexual assault on two young girls at a school in Badlapur of Thane district.
Addressing the media, Thackeray said the upcoming bandh is aimed at creating the awareness that the security of women should be a priority and also to “awaken” the government.
Thackeray also launched an attack on CM Eknath Shinde over the Badlapur incident and accused him of ‘crooked mentality and insensitivity’ to peoples’ emotions. The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief said incidents of atrocities against women are increasing in Maharashtra, and “keeping quiet will no longer help” as the priority is to ensure the safety and security of our mothers, sisters and daughters.
“This is not politicking…The entire state is perturbed by the Badlapur rapes. Those who term it as ‘politicising’ are of crooked mentality. This is the virus of a sick mentality and we must fight it. If the government is unable to protect the womenfolk, then we shall have to do it ourselves,” Thackeray asserted.
Calling Shinde ‘an unconstitutional and inept CM’, Thackeray said that by using public money, he has introduced the ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme with the sole intention of catching votes. “He (CM) thinks that if he gives the women some money (Rs 1,500/month) every month, the womenfolk will vote for the MahaYuti government…He should not be under such an impression, as the women first want security… When they feel safe, such schemes can be brought,” the MVA leader said.
Referring to the incident of police's lathi-charge and use of teargas shells against protesters in Badlapur on Tuesday, Thackeray said it was “a display of peoples’ angst and how could the police target them like this”. “Don’t the people have a right to protest and register their anger? One of the Badlapur victims’ mother is pregnant, needed medicines, yet she was made to sit for some 12 hours in the police station and is now admitted to a hospital. Those who joined the protest are being prosecuted now,” he said.
Thackeray also warned that the CM must realise after he loses his post, he will have to go and live among the same people in Thane (CM Shinde’s home district and town), where the women will question him about all this. "He goes around tying rakhs and clicking photos, but where was he on the night of Raksha Bandhan? What about ensuring the safety and security of all his sisters?” asked Thackeray.
He also trained guns on the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, seeking his whereabouts and wondering why he was not owning up the responsibility for anything. "Fadnavis recently said that the Opposition wants his resignation even if a dog is killed in an accident… Now, what do you have to say,” questioned Thackeray.
A massive protest rocked Badlapur town in Thane district on Tuesday after thousands of people hit the streets and spilt onto railway tracks to protest the alleged sexual assault on two four-year-old girls by a male attendant on the premises of a local school. At least 25 police personnel were injured in the incidents of stone-pelting at the railway station and other parts of Badlapur during the protest. Police have arrested 72 persons in connection with the violence during the stir.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said that the protests at Badlapur were politically motivated and most of the protesters were outsiders. The MVA has called for a “Maharashtra bandh” on August 24 to protest against the alleged sexual assault on the two girls.
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