Tension was in the air right before the first alleged accused in the Mumbai gangrape was produced before the magistrate court. Demanding death for the accused, hundreds of workers from political outfits protested against the infamous gangrape of the 22-year-old victim.
Loud slogans of “sarkar haye haye” by around 50-60 protesters, who were the first to arrive from the Bhartiya Janta Party, filled the air. Apart from demanding death, the BJP workers also criticised the government’s “ineptness” in combating such situations. They couldn’t reach the court premises as the police had put barricades on the arterial lane leading to the court. Women party workers joined the chorus and demanded death penalty for the accused. Taking into account the sensitivity, the police took action and detained the BJP workers before the situation could go out of hand.
After a few minutes, it was the turn of the Shiv Sena party workers, who shouted slogans like “phansi do” and demanded justice for the gangrape victim. The Sena party workers were also detained.
BJP Mumbai president Ashish Shelar said, “The police should arrest all the accused, otherwise, we will not allow the ruling parties’ MLAs to step out of their homes. This is one of the most unfortunate incidents, and if they (accused) are not arrested within one day, we will take up the issue in our hands.”
On Friday, among the various outfits agitating in the city, Mumbai Youth Congress was at the forefront too. Its president, Ganesh Kumar, while talking to this newspaper on Saturday said, “The incident should be deeply condemned and we demand harshest of punishments for the accused. We have sent a letter home minister
R.R. Patil, stating that the case should be handed over to a fast-track court.”