Vijay Wadettiwar, the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra assembly, announced that all Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies will join the statewide bandh on August 24. This action follows a call by the opposition to address the Badlapur sexual abuse case, which has stirred significant unrest.
The MVA alliance, consisting of Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), Sharad Pawar’s NCP(SP), and the Congress, convened in Mumbai on Wednesday to deliberate on the issue. The decision to call a complete shutdown was made after discussions on the alleged failures of the BJP-led Mahayuti government, particularly concerning women’s safety.
The case in question involves the sexual abuse of two girls, both under four years old, by a male cleaning staff at a Badlapur school. The abuse occurred in a toilet with no female attendants present. The incident was uncovered when one of the girls reported pain to her parents. This revelation led to widespread protests in Badlapur, including a blockade of railway tracks at the local station.
In response, the Maharashtra government has announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter, and the accused has been arrested. However, opposition leaders have criticized the government for the alleged delay in registering the First Information Report (FIR), claiming that the victims’ parents had to wait 11 hours before the FIR was filed.
On Wednesday, Mumbai Congress President Varsha Gaikwad spearheaded a protest outside Mantralaya, the state secretariat, demanding swift action on the case. Wadettiwar and several Congress leaders joined her in criticizing the government’s handling of the situation, emphasizing the need for urgent reforms in the response to such incidents.
This protest and the upcoming bandh come amid heightened tensions following the Kolkata doctor rape-murder case, reflecting growing public frustration with handling sexual abuse cases.