Shaina slams Arvind Sawant for ‘imported maal’ remark, seeks apology

Shiv Sena (UBT) member of parliament Arvind Sawant was booked by the Mumbai Police on Friday for his controversial remarks against Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena candidate Shaina NC.

Sawant faced backlash after referring to Shaina, a former BJP leader now aligned with the Shinde faction, as “imported maal” (material) during a campaign event. He emphasized that only “original maal” is valuable, implying a preference for loyal, long-term party members.

Shaina NC condemned Sawant's comments as sexist and reflective of a regressive mindset. She questioned whether he views all women in Mumbadevi as “maal” and contrasted his remarks with the pro-women initiatives championed by Eknath Shinde and Prime Minister Modi, including the Ladki Behan Yojana, Ujjwala, and Mudra Banking. Shaina also highlighted President Droupadi Murmu’s historic role and criticized the Mahavinash Aghadi coalition's attitudes.

In addition, Shaina accused Congress MLA Amin Patel of complicity through laughter during the incident and demanded apologies from both Sawant and Patel, warning of consequences at Nagpada Police Station. Confident in her party's strength, she predicted a defeat for the Mahavinash Aghadi, stating, “They will be ‘behaal’ on November 20.”