Devendra Fadnavis Faces Backlash Over Pune Bus Rape Case; Opposition Slams Lapses in Law & Order

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Pune: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis is facing severe backlash after a 26-year-old woman was raped inside a stationary state transport bus at Pune’s Swargate bus station. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, has triggered a political storm, with the Opposition directly targeting Fadnavis over the deteriorating law and order situation in Maharashtra.

The accused, Dattatraya Ramdas Gade (36), a history-sheeter with prior cases of theft and chain-snatching, remains absconding. Police have launched a massive manhunt, deploying eight teams to track him down. The fact that such a heinous crime could take place at one of Maharashtra’s busiest transport hubs, despite heavy public movement, has raised serious concerns about security lapses under Fadnavis’ watch.

Opposition parties, including the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), and Shiv Sena (UBT), have slammed Fadnavis, accusing his government of failing to ensure the safety of women. Senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar called the incident a “shameful failure” of the Home Department, demanding Fadnavis take responsibility. “Women are unsafe even at public transport hubs under this administration. What is the Home Minister doing?” he questioned.

As the outrage grew, Shiv Sena (UBT) workers staged a protest at Swargate bus station, vandalizing the security office. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, in response to mounting pressure, ordered the immediate removal of all 23 private security guards at the bus station and directed an inquiry into the security lapses.

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