MUMBAI – A heated exchange occurred in Mumbai’s Worli area when an agitated woman confronted Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan and police personnel during a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally. The incident, captured in a viral video, highlighted public frustration over traffic disruptions caused by political events.
The woman, reportedly stuck in traffic for over an hour while on her way to pick up her child, expressed her anger at the Minister and the police for blocking public roads. She was heard shouting, “Get out of here! You are causing traffic jam!” and questioned why the rally could not be held at a nearby open ground instead of obstructing vehicular movement.
The rally, organised by the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, was part of a protest regarding the recent defeat of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha. According to reports, the protest march from Jamboori Maidan to NSCI Dome caused significant traffic congestion in the Worli area, leading to long queues of stranded vehicles.
When Minister Mahajan attempted to calm the woman, she continued her outburst, stating, “Did you not understand? What is wrong with you? There are hundreds of people waiting.” Her impassioned plea resonated with many social media users, who praised her for speaking out against the inconvenience caused to ordinary citizens.
Opposition leaders were quick to criticise the BJP’s protest tactics. Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal shared the video, alleging that the BJP’s campaign on women’s reservation had exposed its “real face” and accused the party of misleading women for political gains. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also lauded the woman for confronting the minister, stating that her anger reflected the frustration of every Mumbaikar facing commute woes.
Responding to the incident, Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan acknowledged the woman’s frustration but criticized her language and behaviour. He explained that the large turnout at the rally led to traffic congestion and that he had apologised on the spot for the inconvenience caused. Mahajan claimed the woman threw a water bottle in anger and used inappropriate language, though he also instructed police not to take strict action against her. He added that while her anger was understandable given the circumstances, the expression of it was not appropriate.
The Aam Aadmi Party’s Mumbai chief, Preeti Sharma Menon, pointed out that while the police usually permit protests only at Azad Maidan, the BJP was allegedly allowed to protest on the roads, raising questions about the enforcement of regulations regarding protest venues in South Mumbai.
The incident has reignited debate over the management of traffic during political rallies and the impact of such events on daily life in Mumbai.
The Chenab Times News Desk