Mumbai's Call for Action: Implement 'Shakti' Law Now

Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad urges Maharashtra's governor to address increasing crimes against women, highlighting the need for immediate implementation of the pending 'Shakti' law. Gaikwad emphasizes urgent action amid rising cases, criticizing the lack of a full-time home minister and calling for swift justice as a deterrent.

Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad has penned a letter to Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, seeking urgent intervention in response to rising crimes against women in the state. Gaikwad presses for the immediate implementation of the 'Shakti' law, which has been pending approval for three years despite being passed by the state legislature.

Her appeal comes on the heels of widespread protests triggered by the alleged rape-murder of a young girl in Pune's Nasrapur village. Gaikwad has raised alarms over a 12.8% increase in crimes against women in Mumbai, including offenses under the POCSO Act, emphasizing that these incidents are pervasive across the state, not just in urban areas.

The absence of a dedicated home minister, with the chief minister juggling multiple portfolios including home, has exacerbated law enforcement challenges, according to Gaikwad. She urges the governor to direct swift action against offenders and expedite the 'Shakti' law to deter atrocities against women in Maharashtra.