MUMBAI: In a heated exchange following the recent protests in Badlapur over the alleged sexual assault of two kindergarten girls, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde tagged the demonstrations as "politically motivated." The protests erupted after disturbing reports surfaced regarding the abuse of young girls at a local school, leading to widespread public outrage and calls for accountability.

During a press conference, CM Shinde asserted that the protests were orchestrated by opposition parties to undermine the state government, particularly targeting the recently launched 'Ladki Bahin Yojana,' a scheme aimed at supporting women's welfare. He claimed that the majority of the protesters were not local residents but outsiders brought in to create unrest, stating, "Does anyone protest like this? The stomachache the opposition is suffering from due to this scheme is visible from yesterday's protest".

The protests, which included a rail blockade that disrupted services for over ten hours, were sparked by the alleged sexual abuse incident that occurred on August 12 and 13. The accused, a school sweeper, has been arrested, and his custody has been extended until August 26 as investigations continue. In response to the protests, the Maharashtra government has also formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ensure a thorough inquiry into the case and the team has already started its work. 

The opposition coalition, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), has reacted strongly to Shinde's comments, accusing him of trivializing a serious issue. They have called for a statewide bandh on August 24 to protest against the government's handling of the situation and to demand justice for the victims. Former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray criticized Shinde, labelling him as "abnormal" and urging citizens to support the bandh, emphasizing the need for accountability and justice. "Those who feel there is politics behind Badlapur protest are abnormal: Uddhav attacks CM Shinde," he said.

The protests have highlighted broader concerns regarding child safety and the government's response to such incidents. Susieben Shah, chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, criticized the school for allegedly attempting to cover up the crime instead of assisting the victims' families in filing a police complaint.