Maharashtra CM Shinde reacts to increased crime against women, says he didn't get enough time to improve the situation

Despite its image of being a comparatively safe city and state for women, Mumbai and Maharashtra continue to report spikes in crime against women.

In an exclusive interview with CNBC-TV18, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said women's safety is and will remain a top priority for his government, "I have made one thing clear to the authorities that any and every complaint of a woman should be registered and immediate action is to be taken. Women's safety is an important issue for us," Shinde said.

But the data is different from the Chief Minister's claim. As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Maharashtra recorded 31,954 cases of crime against women in 2020. This number increased in 2021 and the state reported 39,526 cases and in 2022, this number increased to 45,331.

On being asked about these numbers, Shinde said it's been less than two years since he resumed power. He didn't get a chance or enough time to improve the condition of women in the state.

When asked that in Maharashtra, especially in the last few years, every party and every leader got a chance to rule the state but the situation continues to deteriorate, Shinde said, "You will have to give us some time. We will focus on this too. The situation is better during our term as compared to what it was during the tenure of the last government."

Data doesn't support the Chief Minister's claims and shows a constant rise in crime against women every year.