A dispute has arisen in Mumbai when the Sambhaji Brigade opposed the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction’s choice of former municipal councilor Pravina Morajkar as a potential candidate for the Kurla constituency. The brigade has alleged that Morajkar misused the Atrocities Act by falsely accusing members of the Maratha community. This Brigade’s request urges Shiv Sena leaders to reconsider Morajkar’s candidacy due to the allegations.
The president of the Mumbai branch of the Sambhaji Brigade emphasized the gravity of the matter in a letter to Uddhav Thackeray.
According to the Brigade, Morajkar allegedly filed false atrocity cases against over 11 Maratha community members while serving as a municipal councilor. They argued that the cases were submitted to harass and damage the reputation of the Maratha youth, portraying them in a negative way and causing them unnecessary legal problems.
The Atrocity Act, also known as the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, is aimed at safeguarding marginalized groups from discrimination and violence. The Sambhaji Brigade argued that Morajkar misused it to falsely accuse Maratha community members, which is not within the Act’s scope. They claim that her behavior has resulted in innocent people being wrongly accused, leading to substantial distress in the community.
Therefore, the Sambhaji Brigade has urged the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction to review their choice and avoid giving an election ticket to Morajkar. It has been argued that a candidate who is accused of using legal provisions inappropriately to target a particular community should be disqualified from running in elections. The Brigade is concerned that this candidate might increase alienation among the Maratha community, who have already raised issues about the misuse of the law.
The debate has garnered considerable attention, particularly as Maharashtra prepares for the forthcoming elections. The controversy surrounding Morajkar’s reported behavior has ignited a wider discussion on the abuse of laws meant to safeguard marginalized populations and the potential impact on relationships between different communities. The Maratha community, an important and powerful group in the state, has been advocating for acknowledgment and safeguarding of its rights for a long time, and the accusations against Morajkar have only further escalated these tensions.
Currently, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) group has not provided an official reaction to the accusations or the letter from the Sambhaji Brigade. Political experts and observers are closely monitoring how the party deals with the situation, as it may have significant consequences for their backing from the Maratha community. As the elections approach, any choice made regarding Morajkar’s candidacy is expected to have an impact on the party’s position and electoral chances in important areas such as Kurla.
The situation is ever-changing, and it will be important to observe how political and social organizations handle the issue, particularly considering the sensitivity of the Maratha community’s issues and how they might affect the political scene in Maharashtra.