Dowry death case: Chakankar underfire for calling oppn ‘loose change’

“The current State Women’s Commission chief holds an important post in NCP. She is not able to handle both the posts. And therefore the State Women’s Commission needs a full-time chief and not a part-time,” said Rohini Khadse, who is NCP (SP) state women’s wing chief.

Khadse said she has written a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to appoint an independent person to the post.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Kishori Pednekar, who is the former Mumbai mayor, said, “Rupali Chakankar’s behaviour is becoming arrogant day by day. She is using objectionable words like ‘chillar’ against the opposition leaders. While handling a sensitive issue, we should be more sensitive. However, she walks away from discussion during television debate. Such a state women’s commission chief has no right to occupy the chair. She should instead resign. This post needs cultured, educated and sensitive women.”

Sangeeta Tiwari, who heads the Bitiya Foundation and Gulabo Gang, said if Chakankar had acted on the complaint made by the elder daughter in law of the Hagawane family, then Vaishnavi would not have died. “On November 6, 2024, the elder daughter in law of the Hagawane family had complained that she was being harassed and tortured. On November 7, Chakankar directed police to resolve the issue through a meeting. Instead of asking the police to file an FIR against the Hagawanes, she directed police to resolve the issue. Why? Because Rajendra Hagawane was an NCP leader. She tried to protect a leader of her own party. Is this how the state women’s commission chief should behave? Chakankar should resign from her post. She can’t do justice to her post. She is acting against aggrieved womenfolk,” Tiwari said, adding that the use of “chillar” by Chakankar against womenfolk was highly condemnable.

In her defence, Chakankar said, “I don’t attach much importance to what the opposition says. Their job is to criticise. Whenever the commission receives any complaint, it takes it up with all seriousness. Six days after the incident, one person tweets and asks what the commission was doing? They should ask me. Right from the beginning of the case, I have been involved in it. Their one point agenda is to attack the commission. Their mindset is similar to the mindset of those who harass daughter-in-laws for dowry. They are taking payment to troll me.”

Citing figures, Chakankar said, “Of the 35,971 complaints received by the commission at its headquarters in Bandara, it has disposed of 35,282 complaints. I would not have put forth this data. But in the last two days, the voice of the chillar had grown bigger.”

Karuna Munde, the estranged wife of NCP leader Dhananjay Munde, in Pune told reporters, “If Chakankar is saying that the opposition is taking payment to criticise her, then we can also say that she has got the post because of her looks and not because of some outstanding work she has done.”

Munde said, “Chakankar is saying that commission resolved the complaints of 35,282 women. If she does not provide the evidence of having resolved the complaints, then we will bring all 35,282 women to the commission’s office in Mumbai.”

Shiv Sena leader Neelam Gorhe said, “Had Chakankar as commission chief given proper advice to the elder daughter in law of Hagawane, then she would have got her share in the property by now.”