Mumbai, May 12 (PTI) NCP MP Supriya Sule on Thursday wrote to Maharashtra Minister Hasan Mushrif demanding that special meetings be organised by gram panchayats in the state to pass a resolution banning rituals of widowhood.

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Sule's demand has come after a resolution was passed by Herwad village in Shirol of Kolhapur district on May 4 banning the practice of women breaking bangles, wiping off 'kumkum' (vermillion) from the forehead and removing the mangalsutra of a widow as part of rituals that have been handed down over time.

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The NCP leader said meetings should be organised on May 31, the birth anniversary of 18th century noble ruler of erstwhile Malwa kingdom Ahilyadevi Holkar.

Sule shared a copy of the letter on Twitter.

“Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar's birth anniversary is on Tuesday, May 31. All gram panchayats in the state should organise special gram sabhas on the occasion to pass the progressive resolution following the suit of the Herwad village," the Lok Sabha MP from Baramati said.

“It is an earnest request that your department issues instructions in this regard to those concerned,” Sule told the state rural development minister.

Describing Herwad village's decision as “revolutionary”, Sule pitched for replicating the move at the state-level in a bid to ensure equal and respectful treatment to widows.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)