Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday issued a restraining order preventing any political party or individual from organising a Maharashtra Bandh. Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya said, “We are restraining any political party or individual from proceeding with the call for bandh. We will also direct the State to take all necessary steps as outlined in the BG Deshmukh judgment.” The order was issued just days after the Opposition group Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) announced a statewide bandh on August 24 to protest the recent rape of two minors in Badlapur.
Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray called for the withdrawal of charges against those who protested in Badlapur over the alleged sexual abuse of two kindergarten girls, warning that the opposition would take to the streets if the demand was not met.
Speaking to the media, Thackeray said that the August 24 ‘Maharashtra Bandh’ called by the Opposition is a protest against “perversion” and urged people from all communities to participate. He said that the bandh would amplify the voices of the state’s citizens and criticised the Eknath Shinde government’s handling of the Badlapur protests. “Arrests are still happening in Badlapur. The cases against the protesters must be dropped, or we will have to take to the streets,” Thackeray said.
Badlapur sexual assault protest
A huge protest erupted in Badlapur, Thane, on August 20, as thousands blocked railway tracks, protesting the alleged sexual assault of two four-year-old girls by a male school attendant. The demonstration turned violent, injuring 25 police personnel due to stone-pelting. Police arrested 72 people involved in the violence. The accused, arrested on August 17, remains in custody until August 26. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar emphasized the government’s commitment to maintaining order and accused the opposition of politicizing the incident, assuring that appropriate actions would be taken against those responsible.