Mumbai: With less than a fortnight to go for Assembly elections, the political temperature is rising in Maharashtra. And when you have leaders making controversial comments against fellow-politicians, the atmosphere gets vitiated.
A major row erupted on Friday after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant called Shiv Sena’s Shaina NC ‘imported maal’, prompting the latter register a complaint with Nagpada police station.
Based on Shaina’s complaint, an FIR has been filed against Sawant.
Speaking to reporters about Shaina recently quitting BJP and joining the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Sawant said: “Look at her condition. She was in the BJP all her life and now she has gone to another party. Imported ‘maal’ does not work here, only original ‘maal’ works here.”
Blasting Sawant for “outraging the modesty of a woman”, Shaina slammed Uddhav Sena leaders for being silent.
“Arvind Sawant took me along for campaigning in the past and now I am ‘imported maal’? I’m not your maal. I’m going to Nagpada police station to file a complaint,” said a furious Shaina.
She also took to her X handle and wrote (in Hindi), “I am a woman, not a commodity.”
Questioning the “itemisation and objectification of a woman”, Shaina pointed out that Amin Patel (Congress candidate on Mumbadevi) was seen smiling as Sawant made the deplorable comment.
“Why is he outraging the modesty of a woman?” she asked.
“This reveals the mindset of Arvind Sawant and his party. Does he see every woman in Mumbadevi as ‘maal’? He shows no respect for women, using such terms to describe a capable woman in politics,” she said.
Even leaders of BJP condemned Sawant, the latter said in his defence that he had not mentioned Shaina’s name.
“I respect women… I am from Balasaheb’s Sena,” said Sawant.
