Maharashtra Bandh – 10 things you need to know about the protest today

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) called for a state-wide bandh on August 24 to protest against the ruling Mahayuti government over increasing crimes against women in the state. However, the Bombay High Court restrained political parties or individuals from proceeding with the bandh today or any future date, thereby, forcing the MVA to withdraw the bandh.

Here are 10 things to know about Maharashtra Bandh today –

-The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), had planned to protest against the Mahayuti government over the sexual abuse of two kindergarten girls in Badlapur and rising incidents of crime against women in Maharashtra.

-The Bombay High Court restrained political parties and people from proceeding with the Maharashtra bandh scheduled for August 24 or any future date. The court’s decision was based on a 2004 ruling of the HC. 

-The July 2004 judgment of the HC held that enforcing a bandh or ‘hartal’ (stoppage of work, businesses) would amount to an unconstitutional act. In case of such a bandh being enforced, the political party which gave the call would face legal action and compensate for any loss of life, property or livelihood, as per the 2004 judgement.

-A division bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar said the Maharashtra government shall take all necessary steps to prevent a bandh. 

-The HC passed the order on two petitions filed on Friday through advocates Subhash Jha and Gunaratna Sadavarte challenging the MVA’s shutdown call and seeking the court to restrain political parties from proceeding with it.

-The MVA has withdrawn its call for a state-wide shutdown but will hold peaceful protests instead. The Opposition parties said that it will organise demonstrations with leaders and workers wearing black bands as a mark of protest. 

-Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde criticised the opposition for their bandh call, calling the court’s order a “slap on the face” of the opposition and accusing them of politicising serious crimes.

-Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole announced peaceful demonstrations between 11 AM and noon across various locations in the state, with Patole himself participating in Thane.

-Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray expressed disagreement with the court’s order, while Nationalist Congress Party (SP) president Sharad Pawar acknowledged the need to respect the judiciary.

-Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis criticised the opposition for calling the bandh, accusing them of using the issue for political gain rather than addressing broader concerns. “This is for politics. You did not take a stand against the Mamata Banerjee government over the rape and murder of a woman doctor in Kolkata. But here you are calling for a bandh for your selfish interests,” said Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio.