By Jayveer Singh
Maharashtra: On Friday, the Bombay High Court issued an injunction prohibiting any political party or individual from advocating for a Maharashtra strike. Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has earlier declared a Maharashtra Bandh in protest at the sexual assault of two 4-year-old girls in Badlapur. The MVA, the opposition bloc, has not yet stated whether or not they would end the bandh.
Former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray declared the August 24 Maharashtra Bandh. However, following the verdict by the Bombay High Court, no individual or political party is able to call for a bandh. Following the announcement of the strike, Maharashtra’s schools and institutions were closed without prior warning. A bench led by Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar gave the Maharashtra government instructions for the rigorous prevention of a bandh.
Bombay High Court, while hearing appeals for the bandh, declared that the state would take all necessary steps to stop any political party or individual from requesting a shutdown. Earlier in the day, Uddhav Thackeray declared that the Maharashtra Bandh opposes “perversion.” He clarified that there is no political motivation behind the opposition bloc MVA’s request for a bandh and urged people throughout the state to support the cause. On Friday, he made a demand that the police file against the demonstrators from Badlapur be dropped. He said that if their demands are not met, they will take to the streets.
In their court filing, attorneys Subhash Jha and Gunaratna Sadavarte referred to MVA’s action as unlawful. The Maharashtra government is prepared to take all necessary measures to save human lives and prevent harm to the loss of property, according to State Advocate General Birendra Saraf. On Friday, the court has not yet issued a comprehensive ruling on the matter.