'Balatkari bachao alliance...': BJP slams INDIA bloc over Badlapur encounter
After the opposition lodged a protest with the Maharashtra government over the death of Badlapur rape accused Akshay Shinde on Monday night while in custody, the Bharatiya Janata Party hit out the bloc. To recall, Shinde was shot dead by the police after he allegedly snatched a policeman's gun and opened fire. The opposition has demanded an investigation into the incident. In response to this, the BJP called the opposition bloc a "Balatkari bachao alliance" (Save rapist alliance).
Why does this story matter?
Shine—a 24-year-old cleaner—was accused of sexually assaulting two minor girls at a school in Badlapur town of Thane in August. He was shot dead near the Mumbra Bypass, Thane on Monday evening after he allegedly grabbed a policeman's gun while being transported in a police vehicle. However, his family has denied this allegation, rejecting the claim that he snatched the weapon and fired. His mother, in particular, said Shinde was terrified of firecrackers, demanding an inquiry into the incident.
What BJP Spokesperson said
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla questioned the opposition's reaction to Shinde's death. "Badlapur sexual assault accused Akshay Shinde died after being shot at by police in retaliatory firing. On one hand, Maharashtra and Badlapur have taken a sigh of relief whereas on the other hand, parties of the INDI alliance [Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance] are mourning the death of a rapist. Is this a 'balatkari bachao alliance'?"
BJP's statement on Mamata Banerjee government
Poonawalla also criticized the Mamata Banerjee government, accusing the INDIA bloc of attempting to protect the accused in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case. "They tried to protect the accused Moeed Khan in the Ayodhya gangrape case... Some leaders of the Congress party and INDI alliance have started speaking in favour of rapists... This is very shameful," he said.
BJP's Pradeep Bhandari targets opposition leaders
BJP Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari echoed Poonawalla's sentiment. "In...rape-murder incident, the Mamata Banerjee government was trying to protect the accused. Akhilesh Yadav was trying to protect the accused Moeed Khan in the Ayodhya gangrape case. Rahul Gandhi said that the RG Kar...rape-murder incident is a distraction...Today, when action is taken as per law in the Badlapur incident, the leaders of Congress call it a cold-blooded murder. They never stand with women but they stand with their vote bank," he said.
Opposition leaders demand judicial probe
Meanwhile, Vijay Wadettiwar, the leader of the opposition in the assembly, expressed suspicion over Shinde's death. "Is it an attempt to destroy evidence? Were Akshay Shinde's hands not tied by the police during the transit? How could he reach for the gun, and how come the police were so careless? We demand a judicial probe in this matter," he said. Similarly, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole called for an investigation under a sitting high court judge.
Aaditya Thackeray calls for inquiry
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray also expressed concerns over the encounter. In a post on X, he wrote, "The Badlapur case accused deserves to be hanged until death but what happened today evening is reckless and suspicious... There should be a neutral inquiry of this matter." "Who is trying to save the directors of the school management board? Why have they not been found? Is today's incident and they being on the run connected?" he added.
