• Source:JND
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Shiv Sena (Shinde Faction) candidate from Mumbadevi Assembly constituency, Shaina NC, on Friday lodged an FIR against Shiv Sena UBT MP Arvind Sawant over his alleged sexist remarks against her during a campaign rally for Congress candidate from Mumbadevi, Amin Patel. Calling Shaina NC an "imported maal", Sawant said that the people of the constituency will vote for their local candidate and the outsider candidate will be rejected. Shaina NC earlier this week joined the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena and was declared as Shiv Sena's candidate for the Mumbadevi seat.

After lodging a complaint against Arvind Sawant, Shaina NC said, "We all know that "MahaVinashAghadi" don't respect women. Ma Mumba Devi's blessing is with me, I am a woman but not "maal". If you are to make derogatory remarks against any woman, then this is the FIR and the law will take its course. When you outrage the modesty of a woman, do you think that the woman will keep quiet? Women of Maharashtra will give them a befitting reply."

The Shiv Sena party emphasised that under the provisions of the Bhartiya Nyay Sahita (Indian Penal Code), this behaviour amounts to an act of outraging a woman's modesty, in violation of Sections 354 and 509 of the IPC.

Arvind Sawant has been booked under Sections 79 and 356(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) by the Nagpada police in Mumbai. The controversy erupted after Sawant, campaigning for Congress' Amin Patel, said, "Look at her condition. She was in the BJP all her life and now has gone to another party. ‘Imported maal' does not work here; only ‘original maal’ works here”.

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Reacting to his remarks before filing an official complaint, Shaina NC slammed Sawant and said, "Does he think every woman of Mumbadevi is a 'maal’? You don't respect a woman. You use such words for a capable woman who is in politics. Now you will be ‘behaal’ (ruined). You (Sawant) will have to apologise at Nagpada police station".

However, Sawant stated that this was an effort from the ruling alliance to malign his image before the polls and alleged that his statement was presented wrongly among the people. "I haven't taken her name. I just said that someone who is an outsider won't work here. They want to set a narrative. They are filing defamation - but I will say that they are defaming me," Sawant said, as quoted by ANI.

"I condemn their intent to defame me. I have been in politics for 55 years. I have always respected women. Those who are supporting her - ask them to answer whatever questions I have asked. Shaina NC is my friend, she has worked for me. I respect her. They are "satta jihadi" people, what our leader Uddhav Thackeray says about them," Sawant added.

BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla also slammed Arvind Samant and said, "It's a very objectionable remark. He called her "imported maal". This is the Congress-INDI alliance's mentality to use such words for women. Irfan Ansari has recently called our candidate and a tribal woman - Sita Soren - a rejected maal".

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"The entire INDI alliance's character is to disrespect women. Priyanka Vadra who gave the slogan of 'ladki hun lad sakti hun' and Priyanka Chaturvedi should apologise. Will Arvind Sawant be sacked from the party? They won't do it as this is an anti-women alliance," he said.

Maharashtra will vote in a single phase on November 20, and the result for all 288 assembly seats will be declared on November 23.