Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray announced a statewide bandh in Maharashtra on Saturday, August 24, in protest against the sexual assault of two kindergarteners in Maharashtra’s Badlapur. Thackeray urged citizens to unite for the “safety of our daughters”.
“This is not a political bandh,” the former Maharashtra Chief Minister clarified.
Appealing to people to support the bandh, Thackeray said, “All citizens fought together during Covid-19 and we must do so now for our daughters.”
Thackeray criticised Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, accusing him of downplaying the protests as “politically motivated” while he was on a tour during the incident.
Thackeray also took aim at the Ladki Bahini Yojna, calling it a politically driven move ahead of upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra.
Stating that political parties should prioritise children’s safety, Thackeray said, “What we are witnessing is angst of people on the road. It started from West Bengal. Earlier, it happened during the Nirbhaya case. This time we should take some concrete action. The Chief Minister should take cognisance.”
He called for the enactment of the Shakti law, which includes provisions for capital punishment for crimes against women.
Two girls, aged three and four, were sexually assaulted by a cleaning staffer at their school in Thane’s Badlapur area. The accused, identified as Akshay Shinde, was arrested, and protests were seen across Badlapur seeking justice in the case.
