Not satisfied with the Supreme Court’s decision allowing dance bars to reopen, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said his government is planning to check on the legal options available. However, the Dance Bar Girls’ Association leader Varsha Kale has welcomed the decision. Opposition parties have slammed the state government terming the decision as embarrassing. “We respect the Supreme Court’s order. However, we are principally against opening of dance bars. We will explore all legal options including legislative intervention,” Mr Fadnavis said here. Earlier in the day, the apex court asked the Maharashtra government to implement its earlier order on dance bars and decide within two weeks on the hotel owners’ application seeking grant of licence for running them in the state.
Ms Kale said the girls are happy with the decision and ready to join back. “Now the fight is not between bar girls and the government. We are happy with the decision and this has given hope to the girls to get some employment. The state government’s ban was illegal,” she said.
NCP alleged that the hotel owners’ association had entered into a “deal” with the state government so that dance bars could reopen.
“A deal was struck some time back at a meeting between chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar and representatives of the association,” NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said.
“Abki bar, dance bar...this is what they want...since the BJP-Shiv Sena government has come to power, they have been favouring the nightlife in Mumbai...they have not pursued the case properly in the Supreme Court,” he said.
Another NCP leader and leader of opposition in the Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde said the late R.R. Patil must be shedding tears over the court’s decision. The government had been completely embarrassed, Mr Munde said.
The BJP, however, tried to defend its government and said the ban would continue. “The state government is firm on continuing the ban because dance bars have destroyed many young lives,” BJP Mumbai president Ashish Shelar said.
