Shinde should not have seen Badlapur protests through political lens: Pawar

Pune: Though NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Friday appealed to MVA partners to call off the proposed Maharashtra bandh on Saturday, the veteran politician said chief minister Eknath Shinde should not have seen people's protest against the Badlapur incident "through a political lens". The Bombay high court on Friday restrained political parties or individuals from proceeding with the Maharashtra bandh over the Badlapur school sexual assault incident on Aug 24 or any future date, saying such a protest will paralyse normal life. Following this, Pawar appealed to MVA allies to call off the bandh. The MVA allies decided to observe "a silent protest" across the state, including Pune, in view of the HC's directive. "The bandh call was within the fundamental rights of the Indian constitution. However, the Bombay HC said the bandh was unconstitutional. It is not possible to move the Supreme Court against the HC's order in a short span. Since the judiciary is the constitutional institution, we should respect it and I appeal to call off tomorrow's (Saturday) bandh," Pawar wrote on his social media account."The Maharashtra bandh was called by the MVA on Saturday to highlight the public sentiments against the increasing atrocities against women and children in the state. What occurred in Badlapur was extremely shocking. It is also quite worrisome to know that the minor girl was sexually abused on the campus of an educational institution. After Badlapur, there have been incidents in other parts of the state too, All these were quite unfortunate," he said."People of Maharashtra are extremely angry with such incidents. Society needs to wake up to such incidents to avoid repeat of such cases. Everyone has to take responsibility to make society safer," he said.Responding to the claim by Mahayuti members, including the chief minister, that the protest in Badlapur was "politically motivated", Pawar said, "The CM should not have made such a statement. There was no politics involved in the protest. It was pure anguish of the citizens. It is unfortunate that cases are registered against the peaceful protestors. The govt, especially its home department, should have been more sensitive in handling the issue."