Varsha Gaikwad (Congress president and MP from Mumbai) has reached out to Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, urging immediate action on the rising crimes against women and girls in the state. In her letter dated May 5, 2026, she called for the urgent enactment of the Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2020, which is modeled after the Disha Act of Andhra Pradesh and aims to strengthen legal protections for women. The bill was passed by both houses of the Maharashtra State Legislature in 2021 but is still awaiting presidential assent. Gaikwad's appeal comes in the wake of significant protests following the alleged rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in Nasrapur village, Pune district. She expressed concern over the safety of girls in schools and women in their homes, criticizing the Maharashtra government for lacking a dedicated Home Minister, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis managing multiple portfolios. This situation, she argues, has placed excessive strain on law enforcement.