Protest in Mumbai THANE: Leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi ( MVA ) staged a silent protest in Thane on Saturday condemning the sexual harassment of toddlers in Badlapur ’s school At the silent protest in Thane, prominent leaders such as Congress state president Nana Patole and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader MLA Jitendra Awhad were present. The protestors symbolically covered their mouths with black bands and waved black flags during the demonstration. The backdrop of these protests stems from a shocking incident in Badlapur, where two young girls were sexually assaulted.
The Mahavikas Aghadi had initially called for a bandh (shutdown) in response, but this was later prohibited by the High Court. Consequently, the coalition decided to hold silent protests across the state on Saturday. In Thane, the protest took place at Mahatma Gandhi Garden, near Masunda Lake, with Nana Patole and Jitendra Awhad leading the event.
Before joining the silent protest, Jitendra Awhad addressed the media, expressing concern over the situation in Badlapur, which he described as "dangerous" for Maharashtra. He warned that such unrest could spread across the state, leaving citizens with no choice but to take to the streets. He also questioned why the officials who attempted to suppress the crime have not been arrested.
Meanwhile, as the Mahavikas Aghadi’s protest was ongoing at Mahatma Gandhi Garden, just a few metres away, Thackeray faction leader Rajan Vichare led a separate demonstration at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial. An hour later, Vichare and his supporters joined the protest at Gandhi Garden, but by then, Nana Patole and Jitendra Awhad had already left, sparking discussions about potential discontent within the Mahavikas Aghadi in Thane. Simultaneously, BJP leaders gathered near Masunda Lake to stage a counter-protest against the Mahavikas Aghadi.
They accused the coalition of exploiting the incidents in Badlapur and Kolkata for political gain, branding their actions as hypocritical regarding women’s safety..
