No Maharashtra Bandh On August 24: Uddhav Thackeray Opts For Silent Protest

Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray announced the cancellation of the 'Maharashtra Bandh,' initially scheduled for August 24, following a Bombay High Court ruling. The court's order, issued just hours before Thackeray's statement, barred political parties and individuals from calling for a bandh in Maharashtra.

"We do not accept the court's decision, but we respect it. The court should now show the same urgency in punishing the guilty of the Badlapur incident. This is not the time to approach the Supreme Court," Thackeray stated during a press conference.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), had initially called for the bandh to protest against the Badlapur incident. Thackeray emphasized that the bandh was intended to protest atrocities against women, with no political agenda behind it.

Thackeray expressed his frustration with the ruling, questioning, "Do people not have the right to express their emotions?" He clarified that the bandh was never meant to incite violence or stone-pelting. Thackeray announced that he would hold a silent protest by sitting with a black band on his face at 11 AM on Saturday in front of Shiv Sena Bhavan.

Earlier in the day, the Bombay High Court issued a directive prohibiting political parties and individuals from proceeding with the Maharashtra bandh in response to the Badlapur incident. The court cited concerns about the potential disruption of normal life, including essential services and economic activities, if the bandh were to proceed. The division bench, led by Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar, emphasized the need to prevent the significant losses that could result from such a protest.

About Maharashtra Bandh:

The call for a Maharashtra bandh was initiated by Uddhav Thackeray to protest the Badlapur incident, particularly the alleged sexual abuse of two kindergarten girls. Thackeray had demanded the withdrawal of cases against those who protested in Badlapur, warning that failure to do so would lead to further street protests by the opposition.