Withdraw call given for bandh to respect Constitution: Sharad Pawar
Mumbai: NCP (SP) President Sharad Pawar has appealed to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) constituents to withdraw a call given for Maharashtra Bandh on Saturday (August 24).
His appeal followed the High Court ruling that the bandh is illegal. “The Indian Judiciary is a constitutional institution. Therefore, the bandh call should be withdrawn to show respect towards the Constitution.”
Speaking about the HC decision, Pawar said, “A public call was given on Saturday (August 24) in the backdrop of the Badlapur incident. It was a cruel assault on two innocent girls. Consequently, all sections of society expressed outrage. The bandh was an effort to bring this to the government’s attention.
“The bandh was within the ambit of Fundamental Rights given by the Indian Constitution. However, Hon’ble High Court, Mumbai has ruled that the bandh is illegal. It is not possible to appeal against the ruling in the Supreme Court due a constraint of time. Therefore, I appeal to all to withdraw the bandh to respect the Constitution and the Judiciary being a constitutional body.”
Adv Gunratna Sadavarte approached the HC against the bandh call given by the MVA. The court ruled that it was illegal during the hearing. It stated, “Political parties do not have the right to call for a bandh. The government should act against violators of the order.” Later, Pawar appealed to the alliance partners to withdraw the bandh.
It remains to be seen whether Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray and MPCC President Nana Patole would also appeal to withdraw the call.
