Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari had written a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray after the rape incident at Sakinaka in Mumbai. He had pointed the finger at law and order since the Sakinaka incident. In the letter, the Chief Minister was instructed to convene a two-day convention. The Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday has replied to the Governor's letter.
Thackeray has hit back saying Koshyari should request the Centre to call a session of Parliament to discuss issues concerning the safety of women and growing attacks on them.
In his letter to the governor written on Monday, Thackeray gave figures of crimes against women in BJP-ruled states including Uttarakhand, the home state of Koshyari. He stated that such ''instructions'' by the governor could stoke a new controversy” and are damaging to the democratic Parliamentary procedures.
Koshyari had recently written to the CM asking to convene a special session of the state legislature. In his latter, the CM said he had taken cognisance of Koshyari's concerns regarding the safety of women. “I can understand your feelings for calling a special session of the Maharashtra Assembly against the backdrop of the Sakinaka rape incident in Mumbai. Your soul is of a political worker. However, the instructions given by you could stoke a new controversy,” Thackeray wrote.
“It is damaging to Parliamentary democratic procedures that governor also makes the same demand being made by those who are opposing the state government. The state is taking firm steps to curb such incidents,” the CM stated.
“Uttarakhand, your home state, is also known as Devbhoomi. The government data shows that attacks on women have been increased by 150 per cent. Can a special session be called there?” Thackeray asked.
He wrote that 14,229 women had gone missing in neighbouring Gujarat in the last two years. ''The Gujarat police report says that at least 14 women daily face rape or sexual assault. Going by such high numbers, Gujarat would need at least a month-long session.
Despite many attacks on women in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has not made any demand for a special session,'' Thackeray stated.