After a viral video showed a woman confronting Maharashtra BJP minister Girish Mahajan over traffic disruption during the women’s ‘Jan Aakrosh Morcha’, the senior leader has defended the protest, calling inconvenience “unavoidable” while acknowledging public frustration.
Girish Mahajan Defends Protest Amid Viral Outrage
A day after a video of a heated confrontation during the women’s ‘Jan Aakrosh Morcha’ went viral, BJP leader Girish Mahajan responded to the controversy, defending the right to protest while addressing concerns over traffic disruption in Mumbai.
Speaking in a video shared by IANS, Mahajan said the demonstration was held after large numbers of women in Mumbai protested against the Congress over the Women’s Reservation Bill not being passed in the Lok Sabha.
“Inconvenience Is Unavoidable During Protests”: Mahajan
Mahajan stated that public inconvenience is a natural outcome of mass protests, especially when thousands gather on city roads.
He said commuters often face temporary disruption when crowds move across major routes, and such situations cannot always be avoided.
However, he clarified that while inconvenience is understandable, the way public anger is expressed must remain appropriate.
“I Understand Her Anger, But Language Was Wrong”
The minister said he does not disagree with the woman’s frustration and acknowledged she may have been stuck in traffic or running late.
But he added that there is a proper way to express dissatisfaction.
“When such a march takes place on the road and has to move from one place to another, the road is bound to be blocked. Some inconvenience is inevitable. Still, there is a proper way to express anger, and I feel the language used was inappropriate,” Mahajan said.
Police Permission & Clarification by Mahajan
Mahajan further clarified that the protest had prior police permission and participants were following an approved route.
He said he personally assured the woman that the road would be cleared within 10 minutes and even apologised for the inconvenience caused.
However, he maintained that despite understanding her frustration, the manner of confrontation was not appropriate.
What Sparked the Viral Video?
The controversy began after a video surfaced showing a visibly upset woman confronting the minister over the disruption caused by the protest.
In the clip, she questioned why the demonstration was allowed on a busy road when an open ground was available nearby.
“Say what you want to say in an empty ground, get out of here, don’t stop the traffic. There are hundreds of people waiting, and there is an empty ground right there,” she is heard saying.
Social Media Reaction: Divided Opinions
The viral video has sparked intense debate online. While many users supported the woman’s frustration over Mumbai’s traffic congestion, others criticized her tone and direct confrontation with a senior minister.
The incident has once again reignited discussion around political protests in crowded urban spaces and their impact on daily commuters.
What is the Jan Aakrosh Morcha?
It is a women-led protest march in Mumbai addressing political demands, including concerns over the Women’s Reservation Bill.
Why did the video go viral?
A woman was seen confronting BJP minister Girish Mahajan over traffic disruption caused by the protest.
What did Girish Mahajan say about the incident?
He said inconvenience is unavoidable during large protests but admitted the woman’s frustration was understandable.
Was permission taken for the protest?
Yes, according to Mahajan, prior police permission was granted for the march.
