Pune: NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday said the Badlapur school sexual abuse case has dented Maharashtra's reputation and expressed concern over the rising instances of atrocities against women in the state. "Not a single day passes without reports of sexual abuse across the state," the veteran politician said. The MVA called off its statewide bandh on Saturday over the Badlapur school sexual abuse case after the Bombay high court, pointing at the "huge loss" to the economy and disruption of essential services like health that would occur, on Friday restrained all parties concerned from proceeding with the general strike.
MVA constituents Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SCP) and Congress decided that instead of the bandh, all their politicians would wear black badges and resort to sit-in protests across the state on Saturday. One such protest was organised in Pune where MVA members, led by Pawar, staged demonstrations near the Babasaheb Ambedkar statue. During the protest, Pawar administered an oath to the MVA members to ensure women and children's safety.
Pawar said, "After the Badlapur incident, several such cases are being reported from parts of the state. Not a single day has passed in the state when we are not coming across atrocities against women. Incidents like Badlapur have impacted Maharashtra's reputation in a big way.
" The NCP (SCP) chief said the state govt has "failed in ensuring women's safety". He said, "Those in the present govt have forgotten their responsibility of ensuring the safety of women and children. I was disappointed when some people in govt termed the protest in Badlapur as politically motivated.
It shows how insensitive they have become towards the issue of women's safety." Baramati MP and NCP (SCP) working president Supriya Sule said the fear of law among the criminals has diminished in the state. "We have witnessed the involvement of police in swapping blood samples of people accused in crime.
We have also seen police helping drug racketeers to escape from their custody. If the Mahayuti govt cannot ensure safety, the MVA will take the responsibility of making the state safer," she said..
