Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders and workers protested across Maharashtra today against the alleged sexual assault of two minor girls in Badlapur. MVA announced the Maharashtra Bandh on August 24, previously but the announcement was called off by the Bombay High Court yesterday. The Bombay High Court on Friday issued a restraining order against political parties and persons from calling for a shutdown of the state. Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray participated in a protest in Dadar today. The Former Maharashtra CM accused the Eknath Shinde-led government of ‘standing with culprits’ of the Badlapur sexual assault case.

In his address to a mute protest in Mumbai, Uddhav Thackeray said that the state government is siding with the culprits rather than taking strict action against them. Shiv Sena Chief said, “Yesterday the court showed that the court can take a decision so quickly.” Our sister is subjected to torture and these people are tying the rakhi, he adds. He also urged the President to consider the Shakti Act and implement it across Maharashtra as soon as possible. Similar protests were also led by NCP Chief Sharad Pawar in Pune today, alongside MP Supriya Sule and other MVA leaders.

Shiv Sena leader Anand Dubey also alleged that the Mahayuti government has failed in efficiently exercising law and order in the state. He said that they were protesting against the atrocities on women in the state by keeping a bandh for today.

Reason For The Bandh

Maharashtra Bandh was announced for August 24. But after the Bombay High Court’s ruling, no political party or person was able to call for the bandh. Instructions for strict prevention of bandh were laid out to the State Government by a bench led by Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar. Bombay High Court ruled that no political party or person can call for the bandh.