Former Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday appealed to President Droupadi Murmu to expedite the implementation the Shakti Bill in the state to ensure protection of women, against the backdrop of raging protests against alleged sexual assault on two school girls in Badlapur town.
Maharashtra assembly had passed the Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2020, and the Special Court & Machinery for Implementation of Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law, 2020, three years ago when Thackeray was at the helm. It is awaiting the Centre’s nod.
Thackeray also commented on the contrasting scenes of women being mistreated while people celebrated festivals like Raksha Bandhan. He urged President Murmu to review and expedite the implementation of the Shakti Bill, which had been forwarded to her office for approval.
A state-wide bandh was called for August 24, but was called off after the Bombay High Court’s intervention.
Addressing the media, Thackeray said that the government had taken steps to prevent the bandh, claiming that their followers approached the court when it seemed the state might shut down. He said that their case had been pending in the Supreme Court for two years but believed justice would ultimately prevail. He further pointed out that the judiciary had demonstrated its ability to deliver prompt decisions.
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