On Monday (April 21), a viral video showing a Mumbai woman confronting BJP MLA Girish Mahajan over severe traffic disruption during a political protest has triggered a fresh political debate, with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi strongly backing her remarks.

The incident took place during the women’s ‘Jan Aakrosh Morcha’, where large crowds reportedly caused major traffic congestion across Mumbai roads. The video, which quickly went viral on social media, shows an angry commuter questioning the decision to hold the protest on a busy road instead of an open ground.

Reacting sharply, Priyanka Chaturvedi praised the woman for what she called “holding a mirror” to those in power. In a strongly worded post, she highlighted the daily struggles of Mumbai commuters stuck in long traffic jams and questioned the planning behind allowing such protests on main roads during peak hours.

She wrote, “Hats off to the lady from Mumbai who showed a mirror to Minister Girish Mahajan and BJP protestors for blocking traffic to carry out their political protest. In Mumbai daily commute includes hours of being stuck in traffic jams…”

Chaturvedi’s remarks added political weight to an already viral incident, turning it into a broader debate over citizens’ rights versus protest permissions in a congested city like Mumbai.

Meanwhile, Girish Mahajan defended the protest, stating that traffic disruption is unavoidable during large-scale political demonstrations. He said that when thousands of people gather and move through city roads, temporary blockages are bound to happen.

He added that while he understood the woman’s frustration, the language used during the confrontation was inappropriate. According to him, the protest had prior police permission and followed an approved route.

Mahajan also said he personally assured the woman that the road would be cleared within 10 minutes and even apologized for the inconvenience caused, while maintaining that grievances should be raised through proper channels like the police.

The controversy began after a video surfaced showing the woman angrily confronting the minister, asking why the protest was not held in an open space instead of blocking traffic.

“Say what you want to say in an empty ground, get out of here, don’t stop the traffic. There are hundreds of people waiting, and there is an empty ground right there,” she is heard saying in the viral clip.

The incident has now divided public opinion online, with some supporting the woman’s frustration over daily traffic chaos in Mumbai, while others criticized her tone and manner of speaking to a minister during a political event.