Pune: Sharad Pawar expresses concern over rising assaults on women in State
Pune: NCP (AP) President Sharad Pawar on Friday (September 27) came down heavily on the ruling parties. He said, “They are distributing money under schemes such as Ladki Bahin, Ladki Lek, etc. However, they are not taking any concrete measures for the security of women. This is how the State is being ruled. Women and girls are being sexually assaulted daily but the ruling parties are busy distributing money under such schemes.”
He appealed to the people of the State to defeat the ruling combine in the impending State Assembly elections. He was addressing the Maha Nirdhar Melawa, a public meeting held in Kharadi on Friday. A huge crowd gathered for the rally. MLA Rohit Pawar, MLA Ashok Pawar, former MP Vandana Chavan, party City Unit President Prashant Jagtap, Jagannath Shewale, Prakash Mhaske and other party office-bearers were present. Former MLA Bapusaheb Pathare and Surendra Pathare organised the public meeting. As many as eight former corporators from the Vadgaon Sheri segment joined the NCP (SP) during the programme.
Addressing the gathering, Sharad Pawar said, “We formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) against the ruling parties, which wanted to change the Constitution. Various other parties also joined the MVA. Voters have rejected their agenda of changing the Constitution in the Lok Sabha elections. Thus, the MVA won 31 out of 48 seats in the polls. The ruling party has done nothing for the people of the State. Defeat them in the upcoming State Assembly elections.
“Women are given money under various schemes such as Lakdi Bahin, Ladki Lek, etc, but sexual assaults on women have not stopped in the State. The State Government has failed in protecting them.”
‘What have they done for you?’
Sharad Pawar said, “Power should be used to put the State on a development path. The then Chief Minister Yashwantrao Chavan invited many big companies to establish their units in Pimpri-Chinchwad. This generated employment in the area. The twin township developed. When I was the Chief Minister of the State, I decided to set up the IT Park in Hinjawadi. MIDCs were built in the Ranjangaon and Chakan areas. I decided to build an IT hub in Kharadi. This boosted development of the area. Over 40,000 people from neighbouring Shirur and Parner stay in this area. They got jobs here. What have the ruling parties done for you?”
Pune’s identity – ‘Koyta gang’
Pawar said, “Pune was known as the seat of learning and a safe city. However, the rulers are unable to rein in criminals, who are running Koyta gangs. Pune’s new identity has become a ‘city of criminals’. Law and order has worsened in Pune. Murders, fights and assaults are taking place in the broad daylight. But the rulers are not doing anything.”
‘Is it the same MLA?’
Sharad Pawar criticised sitting MLA Sunil Tingre over banners hailing him raised in the area. Pawar said, “Voters will decide the fate of this MLA.”
He referred to Sunil Tingre’s association with the Kalyani Nagar hit-and-run case. Pawar said, “The MLA was present at the police station to save the culprit instead of visiting the victims in the hospital. How will this MLA work for the common people?”
