Maratha Community Takes Bold Stand Against Dowry and Extravagant Weddings After Vaishnavi Hagawane Case: Pune Meeting Decides ‘Roti-Beti’ Boycott for Harassment

Pune, 27th May 2025: In a significant move following the tragic Vaishnavi Hagawane murder case in Pune, the Maratha community has taken decisive action to address issues of dowry, extravagant wedding expenses, and harassment faced by women. At a major meeting of Maratha political and social leaders held in Pune, it was unanimously resolved to boycott any family found harassing a woman, by cutting off both social and business ties, symbolically referred to as “Roti-Beti” (bread and daughter) relations.
The meeting saw the participation of prominent community leaders, political figures, and respected citizens. The discussion centered on the need to reform wedding customs, curb unnecessary expenses, and ensure the safety and dignity of women. The incident involving Vaishnavi Hagawane has reignited a statewide debate on dowry and the exorbitant costs associated with marriages, prompting urgent community action.
Congress Pune City president Arvind Shinde addressed the gathering, stating that all respected members of the community were present. He announced that the meeting had resolved to implement several key measures: weddings should be conducted simply and with minimal expense; any injustice or harassment against daughters should lead to a boycott of the offending family’s “Roti-Beti” relations; and marriages should be held strictly on schedule. Shinde also emphasized that new customs such as expensive gifts for the groom, pre-wedding photoshoots, and lavish venues must be stopped. Weddings should be limited to close family and conducted in a simple, dignified manner.
Former mayor Kamal Vyavahare expressed deep sorrow over the Vaishnavi Hagawane incident and stressed the need to end harmful wedding practices. She confirmed that the community had decided to conduct marriages with fewer guests and in a more modest style moving forward.
All attendees agreed that the Vaishnavi Hagawane tragedy was deeply unfortunate. They urged community leaders and political figures to set an example by organizing simple weddings, which would encourage ordinary citizens to follow suit and prevent excessive spending on marriages. Political leaders were also advised to avoid giving speeches at weddings and to refrain from presenting costly gifts to the groom. Instead, all weddings should be conducted in a simple and dignified manner.