Maharashtra Opposition Plans Peaceful Protest Against State Government

The opposition in Maharashtra, including Congress and other Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) members, will hold peaceful protests with black bands and flags to express dissent against the Mahayuti government regarding a sexual abuse incident in a school. This decision follows the Bombay High Court's ruling restraining political parties from enforcing a bandh in the state.

Opposition leaders and workers in Maharashtra will stage peaceful demonstrations while wearing black bands and displaying black flags on Saturday. This protest is in response to a sexual abuse case in a school, and aims to criticize the ruling Mahayuti government, the Congress announced on Friday after a Bombay High Court ruling on the bandh.

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole stated that leaders and workers from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), will participate in the demonstrations at various locations throughout the state. The Bombay High Court earlier restrained parties from proceeding with the planned Maharashtra bandh.

The MVA called for the state-wide shutdown to protest the alleged sexual assault on two kindergarten girls in a Thane district school, but will now hold peaceful protests in compliance with the court's directive. The decision followed consultations with NCP (SP) state president Jayant Patil and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. A division bench announced that the Maharashtra government must take steps to prevent any bandh from occurring.

(With inputs from agencies.)