Maharashtra polls: What is the stand of Shiv Sena (UBT) on women's respect, asks Shaina NC

Shaina NC. Pic/PTI

CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena candidate from Mumbai's Mumbadevi constituency for Maharashtra Assembly election 2024, Shaina NC on Saturday demanded answers from the Shiv Sena (UBT) on its official stand, referring to its MP Arvind Sawant's alleged derogatory remarks against her, reported the PTI.

"Under pressure, Arvind Sawant apologised after 30 hours, while (his party colleague) Sanjay Raut justifies me being dismissed as an 'imported maal'," Shaina NC told a press conference.

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Shaina NC, formerly with the BJP, claimed that her rival candidate from Congress Amin Patel laughed when Arvind Sawant made the 'objectionable' comment.

"Would he react the same way if the remark was directed at a woman from his religion or community," she asked.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) should spell out its stand on women's respect, she said.

Arvind Sawant on Saturday apologised for his alleged insulting remark targeted at Shaina NC, a day after a case was registered against him in this connection.

Shaina NC said that she was a 'ladki bahin' (dear sister) to Arvind Sawant when he contested the Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat in 2014, much before the division in the Bal Thackeray-founded Shiv Sena, according to the PTI.

"I campaigned for him extensively in south Mumbai and Mumbadevi and now I am called an 'imported maal'. I am a resident of south Mumbai and Mumbadevi is my mother's home," she said.

"If an apology has to be given, it should be to goddess Mumbadevi. I am her daughter...I will fight and win," she said.

Shaina NC also questioned the silence of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders, including Supriya Sule of NCP (SP) and Priyanka Chaturvedi of Sena (UBT).

"The cause of women is bigger than party politics. I have always stood by women irrespective of party politics," she said.

The Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and Congress are partners of Uddhav Thackeray-headed Sena (UBT) in the opposition bloc MVA.

"(Congress leader) Priyanka Gandhi says 'Ladki Hoon Lad Sakti Hoon (I am a girl and I can fight)'. Why are the opposition leaders quiet now? Why are Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray and Nana Patole (of Congress) not reacting," she asked, as per the PTI.

If Sanjay Raut claims that Sawant didn't say anything wrong, what is the official stand of Sena (UBT) and MVA on women's respect, she asked.

"'Maal' is objectification. It means you are the property of someone," she said, adding that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena, has empowered women through the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme.

In Mumbadevi, there are 40,000 beneficiaries of whom 15,000 are Muslims, she said.

The Shiv Sena candidate said discourse should be on issues in an election.

"What has happened to Kamathipura redevelopment, redevelopment of chawls and cluster redevelopment (in Mumbadevi)," she asked.

She also wondered if Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former state minister Aaditya Thackeray, who lives in Bandra and contests from Worli, is not an outsider.

Meanwhile, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said in Baramati in Pune district that he didn't think there was any personal attack, referring to the controversy.

"However, one should take care while talking," he advised, the news agency reported.

(with PTI inputs)