NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said the Badlapur incident involving the alleged sexual abuse of two kindergarten girls at a school has hit the image of Maharashtra in the country. He accused the state government of forgetting that the responsibility for the safety of women lies with it.
Pawar, who took part in a silent protest in Pune, said the government is insensitive if it thinks the opposition is playing politics over the Badlapur incident. Pawar, along with Maha Vikas Aghadi party leaders and workers, with black bands tied on their arms, continue protest amid rainfall in Pune against the Badlapur incident, where minor girl was allegedly sexually assaulted at a local school.
"There is no day in Maharashtra when there is no news of atrocities against women ... The government should take this incident seriously, the government is saying that the opposition is doing politics, calling it politics shows how insensitive the government is," said Pawar at protest in Pune.
Shiv Sena (UBT) workers and leaders also staged a protest in Mumbai over the Badlapur incident. Attacking the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government over women and children's safety, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said 12 incidents have happened in 10 days.
"The atrocities that are happening against women and daughters, 12 incidents have happened in 10 days. One case is being registered every day under the POCSO Act in Thane. We are protesting against all this... After Uttar Pradesh, heinous crimes are happening in Maharashtra. Women of Maharashtra are asking about Shakti law, "
Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole said the Bombay High Court has slammed the state government over the Badlapur incident. He alleged that the state government trying to protect the accused and No one fears this govt and the administration.
"The HC has scolded the govt. This assault on the girls was going on for 15 days. Our allegation was that the board of directors belonged to RSS and BJP and hence the govt was trying to protect them. These kinds of incidents are continuously happening in the state. This govt has been completely failed. No one fears this govt and the administration...this govt doesn't understand but there is a angush amongst the people," Nana Patole said.
Patole further said that the self-praise of the government will not last long. He argued CM Eknath Shinde's government to resign as a fail.
"They can do all the self-praise but it won't last long...Not only Devendra Fadnavis but the CM, eknath Shinde is answerable as such incidents are on the rise in his district and hence the entire govt should resign," he added.