Maharashtra's new public security bill targets 'urban naxalism', says CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavisstated on Sunday that the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill 2024 recently passed by the state legislature will facilitate strong action against urban Naxalism reported news agency PTIHe claimed that those speaking against the bill are in a way trying to take forward the Left Wing Extremism ideologyCM Fadnavis assured reporters in Nagpur that this bill has not removed anyonersquos right to protest or speak against the governmentMeanwhile the key features of the bill aimed at curbing activities of Leftwing extremist organisations include imprisonment of up to seven years a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh and classification of offences registered under it as cognisable and nonbailable The bill was passed by the state assembly on Thursday and by the council on Friday It will come into force upon receiving the Governorrsquos assentMoreover when asked about BJP MLA Sumit Wankhedersquos claim of urban Naxalism creeping into Gandhian institutions in Wardha district Fadnavis said urban Naxalism was promoted in a very planned manner in the last few years according to PTIThey Maoists made a strategic change when it came to their notice that their cadres in jungles were diminishing They decided to enter educational institutions universities or various other organisations to finish off the constitutional rule there and create anarchy through these urban cadres he explainedWe can see those fighting against us with guns but these urban Naxal cadres are invisible and slowly corrupting our systems Hence this new law will help us in taking big action against urban Naxalism Fadnavis assertedTo another query on the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill 2024 CM Fadnavis expressed his satisfaction that both houses of the state legislature had passed itWe had gone through a big democratic process in introducing this bill he saidThe bill was placed before all party leaders and discussed clause by clause We incorporated all suggestions by the committee joint select panel of both houses of the state legislature There was not a single dissent note to the committee report he addedAdditionally CM Fadnavis also mentioned that 12000 suggestions had been received which were taken into consideration and necessary changes were made before the bill was approved after discussions in both houses reported PTIHence now we will get to take action against the powers not accepting the Indian Constitution and working against it Some people are speaking against the bill without even going through it They will never speak against the bill if they read it he statedThose speaking against the bill are in a way trying to take forward the Left Wing Extremism ideology This bill has not taken anyonersquos right to protest or speak or write against the government the Chief Minister reiteratedAsked about Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavairsquos recent statement about the countryrsquos legal system facing unique challenges and badly needing fixing Fadnavis said the CJIrsquos comments were absolutely correctThere is a need to make our criminal justice system faster he saidAccordingly Prime MinisterNarendra Modirsquos government and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have brought three new laws ndash Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 ndash which have tried to completely change the criminal justice system after a gap of 100 years he said according to PTIThese laws he added will bring transparency to the criminal justice system and make it fasterI think on one side there is law on the other side there is the system and the third side is court The criminal justice system will become fast once the courts embrace it slowly he concludedWith inputs from PTI