Sharad Pawar Criticizes Maharashtra CM Over Rising Violence Against Women
- Sharad Pawar criticizes the Maharashtra CM for dismissing a protest as political.
- Atrocities against girls and women are rising in Maharashtra, prompting concerns.
- It is crucial for the government to remain alert and address the escalating violence.
NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has raised concerns over the increasing incidents of violence against young girls and women in Maharashtra, urging the home department to enhance vigilance in addressing such crimes. His comments followed a shocking incident in Badlapur, where two kindergarten girls were allegedly sexually assaulted at a local school. Pawar emphasized the need for stringent action from authorities in response to this and similar crimes reported across the state. The Badlapur incident has sparked significant public outrage, leading to protests in the area, where thousands demonstrated against the alleged assault. Pawar noted that the protests were a genuine expression of community anguish rather than a politically motivated response, countering claims from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde that the demonstrations were largely orchestrated. He highlighted the importance of peaceful protests and criticized the registration of cases against demonstrators. In light of these events, the opposition coalition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes Congress, Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), has announced a 'Maharashtra Bandh' on August 24 to further protest the Badlapur incident. Pawar called for a collective societal effort to raise awareness and improve the law and order situation, stressing that all stakeholders must work together to prevent such atrocities. Additionally, Pawar met with candidates preparing for the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) exam, addressing their concerns after the exam was postponed due to protests. He assured that their issues were being taken seriously and would be resolved.