Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray criticized the BJP-led MahaYuti government for its handling of a recent case involving the sexual abuse of a four-year-old girl by a school bus driver in Badlapur, near Mumbai. Thackeray’s party expressed disappointment in the government’s failure to protect children and ensure law and order.
According to an editorial in the party’s publication Saamana, the state leadership was condemned for being preoccupied with seeking foreign investment abroad while serious crimes were being committed back home. The editorial highlighted the negligence of the school administration in responding to the incident promptly.
The editorial pointed out that the school bus involved did not have the necessary permits and was operating without a female attendant, violating government regulations. As a result, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) revoked the vehicle’s license and imposed a fine of Rs 24,000. The incident was likened to a previous case of sexual assault in Badlapur, indicating a disturbing pattern.
Saamana criticized the BJP for allegedly protecting individuals connected to such crimes, undermining the rule of law. The editorial also questioned the effectiveness of government schemes aimed at women’s welfare, accusing the state of neglecting women’s safety while seeking their votes. The response to such incidents was described as reactive rather than proactive, with official action only taken after tragedies occur.
