Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Nov 1: Ms Shaina NC, leader and Maharashtra Assembly election candidate from the Shiv Sena faction led by the chief minister Eknath Shinde, on Friday filed a police complaint against the rival Sena faction leader Arvind Sawant for his alleged derogatory remarks against her and all women in general.
Mr Sawant, an MP, had sparked off a controversy by commenting about Shaina NC that the people of her constituency Mumbadevi did not accept “imported maal.” He made the remark while speaking to media. “She stayed all her life in the BJP and now look at her… Humare yahan imported maal nahi chalta (Imported material does not work here). Only original ‘maal‘ works here. We have the original material,” he said, pointing toward the Shiv Sena leader. Ms Shaina NC, former BJP leader had switched to Shiv Sena ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections.
An FIR was registered in Mumbai under sections 79, 356(2) of BNS against Mr Sawant after Shaina NC complained saying he had used derogatory language against her. Dr Neelam Gorhe, Shiv Sena leader and Deputy Chairperson of Maharashtra Legislative Council asked the Election Commission to take immediate action against Arvind Sawant.
She said, “Arvind Sawant’s statement reflects how low and contemptible the perspective of Uddhav Thackeray’s party and its leaders are towards women in the State, especially while criticising our Mahayuti government’s Ladki Bahin Yojna.” Issuing a warning that they will not tolerate disrespectful comments towards women, Dr Gorhe demanded that Mr Sawant publicly apologise to Shaina NC and all women.
Reacting to the row, Arvind Sawant said, “I had said our constituency does not like ‘imported maal’. Why should she feel offended? I didn’t even take her name. What is wrong in saying that outside candidates are not accepted in our constituency?”
Meanwhile, reacting to the statement, Deputy Chief Minister and alliance partner Ajit Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party took to X and said, “Derogatory comments against women have no place in our society, especially in Maharashtra, where we proudly celebrate and honour our Ladki Bahins.” He further added, “Such remarks, especially by a senior Shiv Sena UBT leader against Shaina NC ji, are highly condemnable and unacceptable. They go against the very values of respect and dignity that define our progressive Maharashtra.”
Talking about the row, Shaina NC said, “You cannot respect a woman. You use such words for a capable woman who is in politics. Whether I take action or not, the public will make him ‘behaal’’” Shaina NC further stated, “I think this objectification of women is not only their mentality but Congress MLA Amin Patel was present there laughing.”
“This reflects the mindset of Arvind Sawant and his party. Does he think every woman of Mumbadevi is a maal? On one side there is Eknath Shinde’s Ladki Behan Yojana, on the other side there is Prime Minister’s Ujjwala, Mudra Banking, Housing Scheme, where women are empowered. Droupadi Murmu, a tribal woman, becomes the President and on the other side Mahavinash Aghadi’s Arvind Sawant calls me ‘Imported maal‘,” she said.
The Shiv Sena leader further added, “You will have to apologize at the Nagpada Police Station. Mahavinash Aghadi which is going to be ‘behaal’ on 20th November.”
“I have the FIR copy. This is Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), they don’t respect women. Sawant calls me imported maal/item. The law will take its course, you have outraged the modesty of a woman. I am a daughter of Mumbai–I am no one’s maal. Why is MVA silent on this?” she stated.
Shaina was fielded by Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena from Mumbai’s Mumbadevi Assembly constituency for the November 20 polls. She joined the party hours later ahead of the Assembly Elections.
She was among the 15 candidates named by Shiv Sena on October 28. She was reportedly keen on contesting from the Worli seat. However, she was given the ticket from Mumbadevi after Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora was fielded from Worli by the party against Uddhav Thackeray’s son Aaditya.
The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with counting for all 288 constituencies set for November 23. In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena 56, and the Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, the Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42.