Vijay Wadettiwar Criticizes Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 15: Vijay Wadettiwar, the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra State Assembly, has voiced strong opposition to the recently introduced Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024. He claims the bill aims to suppress opposition and common people under the guise of curbing Urban Naxals.
Key Provisions of the Bill
The bill, introduced by the Eknath Shinde government during the Monsoon session of the Assembly on July 11, includes provisions that allow for the arrest and imprisonment of individuals who speak against government policies for up to two years. Wadettiwar stated, “Ye democracy ki dhajiyyan udane wala hai,” which translates to “This will tear apart democracy.”
The bill is brought under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) made by the Central Government. It allows the Maharashtra government to label any group as an illegal organization by notification in the official gazette. The term ‘organization’ includes any group or body, whether named or not, and governed by a constitution or not.
Opposition’s Stand
Wadettiwar emphasized that the bill’s purpose is to silence opposition leaders and prevent them from criticizing the government. He said, “Ye democracy ka gala dabane jaisa hai,” meaning “This is like strangling democracy.” He also mentioned that the opposition will stage protests against the bill, stating, “We will protest, and we will not sit idly by. If it wants to strangle the opponents in this way, then people will uproot such a government and will never bring it back to power.”
Concerns Raised
The bill has been criticized for being “draconian.” It defines ‘unlawful activity’ as any action that poses a danger to public order, peace, and tranquility, or interferes with the administration of law. It also includes acts of violence, vandalism, or encouraging disobedience to established law. Offenders can face imprisonment for up to three years and fines up to Rs 3 lakh.
Government’s Justification
On the other hand, Maharashtra Inspector General of Anti-Naxal Operations, Sandip Patil, stated that the bill aims to curb the activities of unlawful organizations. He mentioned that Maharashtra police and Gadchiroli police have been successful in containing jungle Maoists.
The Maharashtra Assembly’s monsoon session concluded on Friday without the passing of this bill.
