JALGAON: Union minister of state and BJP MP Raksha Khadse's daughter was harassed and stalked by youths, in the presence of police personnel accompanying her, at a local fair at Muktainagar in Jalgaon district.
Raksha Khadse has lodged a police complaint demanding strict action against the youths who harassed and stalked her daughter and her friends.
Jalgaon police said that a case under the POCSO Act has been registered against the suspects. Moreover, one person was arrested in connection with the incident. Police are on the lookout for others involved.
Khadse said if the daughter of a minister is not safe and secure in the state then you can imagine the plight of the common people. She described the situation as "very bad" and added that she spoke to CM Devendra Fadnavis seeking stringent action.
“My daughter and her friends had gone to the local fair where some young hooligans tried to harass them despite the presence of police guards. The hooligans, who were four to five in numbers, stalked my daughter and her friends. They even sat in front of them in one of the rides at the fair. Police guards tried to stop them, but they threatened the guards as well," the MoS said.
The MoS said the youths also took photographs of the girls on their mobile phones.
Raksha Khadse said she was not in town when the incident happened. When she came back her daughter narrated the whole incident. Thereafter she checked with the guard who echoed the incident. Following this, she rushed to the police station and lodged a complaint.
Reacting to the incident, chief minister Minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed that some of the suspects have political ties. The truth, he added, will come out during police investigation. Stringent action will be taken against those involved, he asserted.
Former minister Eknath Khadse, the father-in-law of MoS Khadse said the police have received several complaints against these youths in the past as well. They are "criminals," he added.
Crimes against women are on the rise in Maharashtra. Criminals are not afraid of the police, he further noted.
Khadse also alleged lapses from the part of the police in handling the case.
“When we went to the police station, we were made to wait for two hours. The police told us to reconsider lodging a complaint since the issue relates to girls," he said.
The youths have beaten up the police. They have political protection, he further claimed.
Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal said that if the daughters of ministers are not safe in Maharashtra then you can just imagine the plight of other women. He said the law and order has deteriorated under the new government.
“Women are not safe in Maharashtra. Each day we are witnessing some horrible incidents against women. Two days ago, a 26-year- old woman was raped inside a bus. What is happening in the state ? The home minister Devendra Fadnavis has completely failed to maintain the law and order. He should own moral responsibility and resign," he added.