Maha political parties display rare unity, oppose lifting of ban on dance bars

political parties seek strong law,amendments to continue ban

Political parties across the spectrum in Maharashtra have reacted strongly to the Supreme Court verdict lifting the ban on dance bars.

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President, Manikrao Thakre said there should be a strong law to ban dance bars, while Nationalist Congress Party has said that they are with the people of the state who support the ban on dance bars.

 

Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi said the government had failed to do its "homework" in court which led to today's ruling.

Terming the Supreme Court ruling as "unfortunate", state BJP president Devendra Fadnavis said, "Maharashtra government remained careless on the issue."

Shiv Sena leader Neelam Gorhe said there was no need for dance bars and women are exploited in such bars.

Earlier today, in a major decision that will impact hundreds of dance bars and thousands of women who worked in them, the Supreme Court struck down Maharashtra government's decision to ban dance bars.

The ban, enforced by the Maharashtra government in August 2005, was struck down by the Bombay High Court in 2006, but the state government had filed an appeal in the Supreme Court.