05 May,2026 12:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray. File Pic
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday has strongly reacted to the horrific Nasrapur rape and murder case in Pune district, where a three-and-a-half-year-old girl was allegedly raped and killed by a 65-year-old accused. Calling the incident "deeply disturbing," he demanded strict and swift punishment for the accused.
Taking to X, Thackeray said the Pune rape case had shaken him and expressed anger over the brutality of the crime. He also questioned the effectiveness of the law and called for decisive action beyond procedural delays.
Thackeray said that while governments often speak of fast-track justice, its meaning must be clearly defined and implemented effectively.
He alleged that crimes against women and children were rising and criticised what he described as a lack of fear of law among offenders.
He also questioned reports of police action against protesters in the Nasrapur area, asking why similar urgency is not shown in preventing such crimes.
The MNS chief said Maharashtra, despite its legacy of women's education and empowerment, needs a deeper examination of why such incidents continue to occur. He said repeated crimes followed by temporary outrage and forgetting reflected systemic failure.
Thackeray further spoke about what he described as a decline in social values, citing increasing obsession with power, money, and influence. He said society's moral and institutional checks had weakened over time.
He added that fear of social accountability and scrutiny, which once acted as a deterrent, had diminished significantly.
In his post, Thackeray also referred to factors such as social media, OTT platforms, consumerism, and political ambition as contributors to what he termed social imbalance.
He said liberalisation had brought change but also disrupted traditional value systems, leading to increased self-interest and moral decline.
Thackeray said he and his party would work towards addressing these issues and urged the government to take immediate corrective steps. He appealed for systemic changes to prevent such incidents as the Pune rape case in the future.
