Maharashtra will observe a bandh (strike) on August 24, 2024, following a call by the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in response to a recent incident in Badlapur, Thane district. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut announced the bandh, which is being held to protest against the recent assault case involving girls in a local school.
Key Details:
- Call for Maharashtra Bandh: The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi has organized the bandh in reaction to the disturbing events in Badlapur. During a recent meeting, the decision was made to support the victims and demand justice.
- Statements from Leaders:
- Sanjay Raut from Shiv Sena (UBT) stated that the incident in Badlapur has caused public distress and the MVA aims to prevent such incidents elsewhere.
- Jitendra Awhad from NCP (SP)-SCP criticized the current government, citing a rise in crime and supporting the bandh as a necessary measure.
- Balasaheb Thorat from Congress emphasized the seriousness of the Badlapur incident, which prompted the call for a bandh.
- Google Trends: The Maharashtra Bandh has been trending at the top of Google Trends since the morning.
- Impact on Services:
- Schools and Colleges: No official directive has been issued yet, but it is likely that educational institutions will remain closed as a precautionary measure. August 24 falls on a Saturday, a day when many government institutions are typically closed.
- Public Transport: There are no current directives regarding bus and metro services. They are expected to operate as usual, but services could be disrupted if there is unrest.
- Banks: Banks will be closed on August 24, which is the fourth Saturday of the month. According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, banks are closed on the second and fourth Saturdays, as well as on Sundays and national holidays.
- Public Interest: People are searching for information related to the bandh using keywords like “Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi,” “Maharashtra Bandh,” and “Why is Maharashtra Bandh happening?” on Google.
- Recent Context: The Maharashtra Bandh comes just three days after a nationwide bandh called on August 21 by Dalit and tribal organizations, protesting a Supreme Court decision allowing the implementation of creamy layer criteria in SC-ST reservations.
