National: The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has called off the Maharashtra bandh planned for today. The MVA decision comes a day after Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray claimed the state government was "standing with the culprits" instead of taking action against the alleged sexual assault of two four-year-old girls at a school in Thane's Badlapur. Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar led a similar protest in Pune along with other MVA leaders, including MP Supriya Sule.

What did Uddhav Thackeray say?
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray was addressing a silent protest in Mumbai today. He said, "It is sad that instead of taking action against the criminals involved in crimes against women, the Maharashtra government is standing with them." He said that it is necessary to remove the Mahayuti government to ensure the safety of women in the state.

Thackeray asked his party workers to launch a signature campaign with the slogan 'Sisters are safe and homes are safe', which will later be presented in the Bombay High Court. Thackeray also said, "The court stopped our bandh, but cannot suppress our voice."

What did Sharad Pawar say?
NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, while protesting with other MVA leaders in Pune wearing black bands on his wrists, said, "The Badlapur incident has damaged the image of Maharashtra in the country." Pawar said that such an incident has happened on the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji, who used to chop off the hands of criminals who committed crimes against women.

Let us tell you, Mahavikas Aghadi had called for a bandh today regarding the sexual harassment case in Badlapur, Maharashtra, but it was withdrawn a day earlier. But today many opposition leaders are taking to the streets and protesting against the state government.