I was born and raised in Mumbai, and we never heard of incidents like rape or violence against women in this city because Shiv Sena’s presence acted as a strong deterrent. Women could safely travel alone, even at midnight, making Mumbai one of the safest cities for them. However, since Balasaheb’s demise and Eknath Shinde’s political maneuvers, the unity of the Shiv Sena has crumbled. The division of Shiv Sainiks and Shinde’s focus on the CM chair has led to a rise in crime. Women in Maharashtra long for the days when Mumbai was truly safe for them. When Balasaheb Thackeray was alive, Shiv Sena was credited with making Mumbai a safer place for women. Leaders like Anand Dighe were known for personally helping women facing domestic abuse and harassment, with Shiv Sena cadres actively working to maintain safety. Unfortunately, present CM Eknath Shinde claimed to follow in the footsteps of Dighe and Balasaheb but lost his narrative to vivacious political ambitions. Why is there a rise in crimes against women, and why isn’t the same level of protection being provided?
If Anand Dighe or Balasaheb Thackeray were alive today, they would have taken severe action against Eknath Shinde for failing to deliver justice to the minor victim, who was not only molested but also repeatedly threatened by the accused. Unfortunately, under the leadership of Shinde, crimes against women have increased, and he lacks the courage to address this critical issue, even though he once boldly took action against dance bars to protect families. The question of what has changed under current leadership is a poignant one, especially when compared to the legacy of past leaders who prioritized women’s safety. During Balasaheb Thackeray’s leadership, Shiv Sena was known for creating a strong deterrent against crimes like rape and violence, with the city being one of the safest for women, even at night. The political divisions and changes in leadership, especially under Eknath Shinde, have led to a perceived weakening of this protective framework. Many feel that the current leadership is not upholding the legacy of prioritizing women’s safety as effectively as before, leading to an increase in such crimes.
The Badlapur rape case has deeply shocked the nation, yet the government’s response appears focused on arresting those who protest for justice rather than addressing the root issue. This has led to widespread frustration, as many believe the government is more concerned with preserving its image and making false claims rather than taking meaningful action to ensure justice for the victim. The public’s demand for accountability and safety remains unmet, further fueling the outrage.
On August 13, as a routing grandfather, he dropped his 3-year-old granddaughter off at school. He might have never thought that his granddaughter would fall victim to a beast. When grandfather went to the school to pick up his granddaughter, her classmate’s father informed him that his daughter told him about a ‘Dada’ (elder brother in Marathi) touching her private parts. She also revealed that ‘Dada also used to remove her clothes and did not return’. The classmate’s father had met the school teacher regarding the same and had decided on a medical checkup. This detail reveals that the classmate was a victim of sexual abuse too. The grandfather got suspicious and took the girl to a hospital. The medical report revealed ‘Hymen Open 1 cm CMC ERYTHEMA’. Shocked and pained, the grandfather telephoned the girl’s parents and called them to Badlapur. After the mother confirmed that her 3-year-old 10-month-old daughter was a victim of sexual abuse, she rushed to the police station to register a case. The police refused to register a case, and then Badlapur people took to the street to get the case registered. The Badlapur citizens called for a citywide strike after the police delayed registering the FIR. The victim’s parents had to wait 12 hours to file the case.
The country was yet to come to terms with the horrific Kolkata medico rape and murder, Badlapur sexual assault case of two minor girls by a school sweeper has again sent another shockwave all across India. As per the FIR, the young parents stay in Kalyan and the victim’s permanent address is also her parent’s residential address in Kalyan. However, the young parents in June 2023 decided to keep their daughter with her grandparents. The victim, who is 3 years and 10-months old as per the FIR, was admitted to a Badlapur school’s kindergarten in June 2024. From the last week of June, the girl was regularly attending her school. But the school never bothered to keep an eye on their staff; the sweeper took advantage of the school’s ill management and continued to sexually abuse kids.
The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance called for a Maharashtra Bandh (strike). As per reports, Advocate Gunaratna Sadavarte, who once created unrest in Maharashtra to destabilize the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, is now representing the state government, calling the bandh illegal and the government has asked the court to take strict action against the people participating in the strike. MVA leaders Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar have appealed to the citizens of Maharashtra to participate in the strike overwhelmingly demanding justice for women. The MVA leaders also said that the bandh is demanding the protection of women amid the rising cases of sexual assault and that there is no political agenda. The bandh will continue till 2 pm. Massive protests against the sexual assault of two minor girls in Badlapur. MVA took an aggressive stand and called for a Maharashtra Bandh on Saturday, August 24. Let’s see how Maharashtra reacts to this whole episode. It would also be interesting to watch if Eknath Shinde realized that he is still more of a Shiv Sainik than the dummy of the BJP.
