Northeast Desk, 30th August: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray voiced his concerns on Thursday, expressing that if President Droupadi Murmu had spoken out earlier following the Manipur incident, subsequent crimes against women might have been prevented. Thackeray’s comments were made in response to the President’s recent statement condemning the rising violence against women.
On August 29, President Murmu declared, “enough is enough,” urging the nation to confront the harmful mindset that devalues women. She made these remarks while addressing the recent rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata, emphasizing the urgent need for societal action to protect women.
Thackeray responded by saying, “It is good that the President has finally expressed her emotions, but if she had spoken up earlier, particularly after the Manipur incident, further such crimes might not have occurred.” He referenced the May 2023 incident in Manipur, where two women were stripped and paraded by a mob, a shocking event that only gained widespread attention months later, causing national outrage.
The former Maharashtra Chief Minister also took the opportunity to criticize the BJP, accusing the party of using divisive tactics reminiscent of British-era policies. Thackeray pointed to the delayed response of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the unrest in Manipur and questioned whether the Prime Minister would address recent incidents of sexual violence in Maharashtra and West Bengal during his upcoming visit to the state.
Thackeray also advocated for the implementation of a ‘Shakti law,’ calling for severe punishments for crimes against women, including the death penalty. However, he expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of current laws, stating, “What good are strong laws if those who enforce them are goons?” His remarks underscore the need for not only stronger legislation but also more effective enforcement to protect women’s rights and safety.