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Angry people blocked the railway tracks at Bhadrapur railway station on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, to protest against the alleged sexual abuse of two girls at a school in Thane district.
Massive protests erupted in Bhadrapur, where people blocked railway tracks and ransacked a school, where two female kindergarten students were sexually abused.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday claimed that protests in Badlapur in Thane district over the alleged sexual abuse of two kindergarten girls were politically motivated. Aimed at defaming the state government.
He also said that most of the protesters were outsiders.
Speaking to reporters, Shinde pointed the finger at the opposition and said those who took up politics over the incident should be ashamed.
Massive protests erupted in the town of Bhadrapur on Tuesday, with angry parents, local residents and others blocking railway tracks and ransacking schools after two female kindergarten students were sexually abused by a male attendant last week.
“The protests are politically motivated because the protesters are not local residents. There are only a handful of local residents participating in the protests.
He said state minister Girish Mahajan agreed to all the demands of the protesters but they were still not ready to budge.
“It means they just want to defame the government,” he said.
According to him, some of the protesters held placards mentioning the 'Ladki Bahin Yojana', his government's flagship financial aid scheme for women.
The placards read that what they wanted was not an income of 1,500 rupees a month but protection for their daughter. Protesters blocked the railway route, leading to suspension of rail services between Bhadrapur and Ambarnath for over 10 hours.
“Is anyone protesting like this? The suffering of the opposition due to this plan is evident from yesterday's protest,” Shinde said.
Under the “Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana”, eligible women are entitled to receive Rs 1,500 per month.
During the protests, at least 25 policemen, including railway police, were injured in stone-pelting incidents at Bhadrapur railway station and other places in the town. The police have arrested at least 72 people and lodged four FIRs in connection with the violence.
(This report has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from United News Agency-PTI)
