MVA protests against sexual abuse of toddlers in Badlapur | Mumbai News

THAN: Leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) An quiet protest in Thane on Saturday condemning sexual harassment of toddlers in Badlapur‘s school
At the silence protest in Thane, prominent leaders like Congress State President Nana Patole and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader MLA Jitendra Awhad were present. The protesters symbolically covered their mouths with black bands and waved black flags during the demonstration.
The backdrop to these protests is a shocking incident in Badlapur, where two young girls were sexually abused. Mahavikas Aghadi had initially called for a bandh (shutdown) in response, but this was later banned by the Supreme Court. As a result, the coalition decided to hold silent protests across the state on Saturday. In Thane, the protest was held 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 and expressed 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 option but to take to the streets. He also questioned why the officials who were trying to suppress crime have not been arrested.
Meanwhile, while the Mahavikas Aghadi protest was going on at Mahatma Gandhi Garden, just a few metres away, Thackeray faction leader Rajan Vichare was leading 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 left, leading to discussions about possible discontent within the Mahavikas Aghadi in Thane.
At the same time, BJP leaders gathered at 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 gains, and branded their actions as hypocritical with regard to women’s safety.