• By Imran Zafar
  • Wed, 21 Aug 2024 04:16 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

The opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on Wednesday announced a "Maharashtra bandh" on August 24 to protest against the alleged sexual assault of two young girls at a school in Badlapur. The decision was made during a meeting attended by MVA allies - Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP). Vijay Wadettiwar, Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly stated that all MVA parties would participate in "Maharashtra bandh" called on Saturday.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that the discussion originally intended for seat sharing shifted focus to the state’s law and order situation following the Badlapur incident. Sai stated that the people of Maharashtra are agitated, especially since FIRs have been lodged against protesters. He stated that the bandh is in response to the incident and the subsequent public outrage.

The Badlapur incident, which occurred on August 17, involved the arrest of a school attendant accused of sexually abusing two kindergarten girls in the school’s toilet. The situation escalated as parents were allegedly made to wait 11 hours at the police station before their complaints were registered. The delay sparked significant protests, with thousands of demonstrators blocking railway tracks at Badlapur station and storming the school premises.

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Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights accused the Badlapur school of attempting to cover up the crime rather than assisting the parents in filing a complaint. “They (child protection unit) took them to the police to file the complaint. When I asked the school management about the case, they tried to cover it up. I even asked them why POCSO provisions should not be invoked against the school management,” Susieben Shah, chairperson of the Commission said.

Shah called for a structured procedure to be implemented in educational institutions to prevent such incidents in the future. She also stressed the need for the state to enforce these procedures rigorously to protect children.

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Meanwhile, opposition parties have strongly criticised Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for suggesting that the protests and rail roko agitation were politically motivated. Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad led a protest outside the state secretariat, with leaders including Maharashtra LoP Vijay Wadettiwar voicing their discontent over the delayed FIR registration. Protesters holding placards were stopped by the police from entering the premises, leading to further tensions.

Wadettiwar challenged CM Shinde’s comments, urging him to review CCTV footage before making accusations. He condemned the Chief Minister’s remarks as an attempt to deflect from the gravity of the crime, calling for Shinde’s resignation due to the collapse of law and order in the state. 

Shiv Sena (UBT) Deputy Leader Sushma Andhare also protested outside the Badlapur police station, demanding the arrest of Shiv Sena leader Waman Mhatre for his derogatory comments towards a female journalist. Andhare further called for a White Paper on the state's law-and-order situation and the implementation of protective measures for children in schools.

Similarly, the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) Badlapur unit organised a demonstration demanding the resignation of ruling partner Nationalist Congress Party's Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. 

(With Agency Inputs)