Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav has slammed the Maharashtra government's new bill targeting Left-wing extremism and 'urban Naxalism' as "worse than British-era laws," arguing it lacks supporting data. He, as a member of the bill's review committee, questioned its necessity without evidence of rising extremism
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav. File Pic
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav on Wednesday criticised the Mahayuti government for failing to provide any data or evidence to justify the need for a bill that seeks to crack down on Left-wing extremism in Maharashtra. He called the legislation "worse than British-era laws," reported news agency PTI.
Last week, both houses of the state legislature passed the contentious Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024, which aims to prevent unlawful activities of Left-wing extremist organisations, with a particular focus on 'urban Naxalism'.
Jadhav, an opposition MLA who served on the legislature’s joint select committee that reviewed the bill before it was presented for approval, questioned the very rationale for introducing such legislation in the absence of relevant data, reported PTI.
"There was not a single piece of data presented to show any rise in Left-wing extremism or similar threats in the state. Senior police officers and government officials were present (during committee meetings), but none could answer our basic question: What is the need for this bill if there’s no data to support it?" he said while speaking to reporters on the Vidhan Bhavan premises.
According to PTI, the joint panel was headed by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule of the BJP. Jadhav claimed the BJP-led government has been evasive and inconsistent in its handling of the bill’s draft.
"I submitted a detailed report with point-by-point objections to the bill. Still, my concerns were ignored. The bill should have been flatly rejected," the opposition MLA contended.
According to Jadhav, over 13,000 objections were submitted by members of the public, but the government failed to present any breakdown or summary of those objections in the legislature.
"The government is clearly on the back foot. They could not even define terms like 'urban Naxal' — a phrase they have used as a justification for the bill," he added.
Moreover, he accused the government of procedural lapses, stating that multiple committee meetings were abruptly cancelled, reported PTI.
"The meeting (of the joint panel) was first scheduled for 25 June, then shifted to the 26th. But when we were finally given the draft, it was the old version of the bill. Even the government had to admit it had mistakenly circulated the outdated document," Jadhav alleged.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA criticised the proposed law as excessively harsh and undemocratic.
"Not even during British rule was there such a draconian law targeting organisations and dissent. This bill goes far beyond acceptable limits. It’s more oppressive than colonial legislation," he claimed.
The bill, which has stringent provisions, including hefty fines and a jail term of up to seven years for those found guilty, has sparked criticism from civil society groups and opposition parties, who view it as a tool to suppress dissent under the pretext of national security.
(With inputs from PTI)
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