Bombay HC stops political parties from calling Maharashtra Bandh; Uddhav says…

The Bombay High Court has restrained all political parties and individuals from calling a ‘Maharashtra bandh’ amid outrage over the Badlapur sexual assault case. A division bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar asked Maharashtra government to take ‘all necessary steps’ as Opposition leaders reiterated calls for a strike against “perversion”. The development came even as Opposition leaders — including former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray — insisted they would take join the strike on August 24.
“Arrests are still taking place in Badlapur. The cases against the protesters must be withdrawn or else we have to hit the streets,” Thackeray said on Friday.
“There was a need to take strict action against such an act and everybody demanded the same. The state government should remain alert to keep a check on such incidents. The home department should take stringent action wherever required…Maharashtra Bandh has been called for tomorrow. This bandh should be done peacefully. My party will participate in it. I am sure people of Maharashtra will participate in the bandh,” added NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi had called for a shut-down across Maharashtra on Saturday to protest the sexual assault of two kindergarten girls at a Thane school. A massive agitation also rocked Badlapur earlier this week as the incident came to light. Several police officials were injured as thousands hit the streets and spilled onto railway tracks in outrage.
(With inputs from agencies)