Uddhav Thackeray criticized the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024, calling it the ‘BJP Suraksha Act’. He warned it may be misused to suppress dissent and target opposition. The bill imposes strict penalties for “illegal activities” linked to extremist groups but, Thackeray claims, lacks clarity and may threaten democratic rights.
Uddhav Thackeray. Image/FilePic
Just a day after CM Devendra Fadnavis tabled the Public Security Bill at the ongoing Maharashtra Monsoon Assembly, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday described it as the ‘BJP Suraksha Act’. He further said that the ruling party thinks whoever speaks against it is anti-national.
As reported by PTI, Uddhav Thackeray alleged that the bill has been brought with political intentions and expressed fear that it will be misused against the opposition as well as common citizens.
While addressing the media at Vidhan Bhavan, Uddhav Thackeray said, “The government got the bill passed with a brute majority.”
Both houses enacted the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024, which imposes severe penalties on left-wing extremist groups or anybody who engages in "illegal" activities. The Assembly approved the bill on Thursday, and the Council did the same on Friday.
The main provisions of the special bill intended to stop the operations of left-wing extremist groups are imprisonment of up to seven years, a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh, and the designation of offences registered under it as cognisable and non-bailable.
Thackeray said, “While the government stressed that the bill has been brought to end Naxalism and terrorism, there is no reference of it in the draft. The government should have specifically added words like those ‘undertaking activities detrimental to the country’.”
Tragically, Thackeray, who is one of the members of the State Legislative Council, was also present in the House but did not speak when the bill came up for discussion.
Thackeray on Friday said that “the bill only talks about left-wing extremist organisations, and there is no need to differentiate between the right and the left. The Constitution talks about equality, social justice, and inclusivity,” as per news agency PTI.
He said the undivided Shiv Sena and the BJP were dubbed as parties with right-wing ideologies.
“It is a very ambiguous bill. The bill smells of political intentions. We feel there will be political misuse of this new law," he added.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief also said that the bill talks about "unlawful activity", which constitutes danger or menace to public order, peace, and tranquillity; interference with the maintenance of public order; and administration of law or its established institutions and personnel.
“The dangerous word (in the bill) is 'illegal activity', and it is applicable to everyone, including the opposition and the common man,” Thackeray said, as per PTI.
Earlier, there were similar bills like the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) and Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), he added.
“The bill should be named BJP Suraksha Act because they think whoever speaks against them is anti-national,” the Sena (UBT) president said.
(with PTI inputs)
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