Preamble like parenthood, cannot be changed 'howsoever you try': Jagdeep Dhankhar
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Hindustan Times
17 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
MSPSA critics vow to fight the law in courts, on the streets
MUMBAI: The passage of the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act (SPSA) in the state legislature has evoked sharp reactions from civil society groups, which say they will challenge the law in the courts and won't hesitate to take their protest to the streets. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in state assembly while passing the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act. The law has also exposed cracks within the opposition, as the bill was supported by opposition parties in the legislative assembly on Thursday but opposed in the legislative council on Friday, even as the ruling parties cleared it in the upper house. Civil society groups and social organisations, which have opposed the law ever since the draft bill was first tabled in the legislature last year, had submitted more than 12,300 objections to the proposed legislation. They say that although the state claims the bill is aimed at curbing 'urban naxals', the preamble is open-ended and does not specify 'urban naxal' and 'unlawful activities'. This empowers the government to take action against any individual they want to silence, they argue. Critics of the bill say they will approach the governor of Maharashtra, to urge him to refrain from notifying the law. 'We will also move court against the act on grounds that it violates Article 19 of the Constitution, which guarantees the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression to all citizens,' said Ulka Mahajan, state convenor of the Bharat Jodo Andolan. She said the other four states that had passed the law had done so when there were no stringent provisions in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). 'We will go to the court of the people by holding protests to make everyone aware of the suppression by the government.' Civil society groups also claim that the advisory board under the law would not act independently as it would be appointed by the government. Furthermore, district collectors and the police have been given 'excessive powers' to deal with the properties of organisations targeted by the law, pointing to the misuse of UAPA and other laws in Maharashtra in the Bhima-Koregaon and other cases. Organisations standing firmly against the law are the People's Union for Civil Liberties, Free Speech Collective, Human Rights Defenders Alert, People's Watch, Centre for Promoting Democracy, Citizens for Justice and Peace, Kamgar Ekta Union, and many more. They met leaders from opposition parties on Friday, including Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, urging them to oppose the MSPSA. The new law also saw a split in the opposition, which staged a walkout when the bill came up for discussion in the state legislative council on Friday, after it was unanimously supported by the opposition in the assembly on Thursday. 'Most of the opposition members in the 25-member joint select committee (JSC) that had reviewed the bill were from the assembly. They did not ensure that all 20 amendments suggested in the original draft in the JSC were incorporated,' said a Sena (UBT) leader, requesting anonymity. NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad, said, 'We were told by the chairman (of the JSC) that all the changes we had proposed would be incorporated, but only three were taken.' Civil society groups had attempted to challenge the draft bill well before its passage. 'After we were denied the opportunity to have our say before the JSC, we met opposition leaders on June 25. It was decided that the opposition would submit a dissent note in the JSC and strongly oppose the bill it when it came up for passage. Nothing of that sort happened in the assembly and hence we urged leaders in the upper house to oppose it,' said a member of the delegation. The only sliver of protest was a walkout staged by the opposition in the legislative council when the bill was passed on Friday. Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said they had submitted a dissent note to the chairperson of the legislative council, Ram Shinde. 'The definition of 'unlawful activities' and 'unlawful organisations' is ambiguous, allowing the government to book anybody who raises their voice against the state. We are not against the bill if it really intends to act against naxals, but the law should be more specific. It is likely to be misused like MISA and TADA,' he said.
Hindustan Times
17 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
China increases military incursions, Taiwan responds by deploying vessels
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) said that it detected 14 Chinese military aircraft, nine naval vessels, and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan until 6 am (local time) on Saturday. In response to China's action, Taiwan's armed forces deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal missile systems to monitor the situation.(Reuters/Representational Image) According to Taiwan's MND, nine out of 14 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and eastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). In response to China's action, Taiwan's armed forces deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal missile systems to monitor the situation. "14 sorties of PLA aircraft, 9 PLAN vessels, and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC 8) today, 9 out of 14 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded," Taiwan's MND posted on X. Also read: Taiwan begins 10-day military exercises amid China tensions On June 28, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te highlighted China's use of influence warfare and military intimidation aimed at annexing Taiwan as part of its broader "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation" policy and expanding hegemony in the western Pacific, Taipei Times reported. He warned that this threat would persist regardless of changes in Taiwan's government leadership. While addressing DPP's national congress in his role as party chairman, Lai identified the greatest challenge in domestic politics as the opposition-controlled legislature has bypassed proper procedures, passed bills contradicting the Constitution, and undermined government operations by drastically cutting central government budgets. At the congress, held under the theme "Better democracy, better Taiwan," he emphasised that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) must stand united with the public in their mass recall movement to protect Taiwan's sovereignty and democracy, Taipei Times reported. Emphasising the vital role of civil society, Lai credited Taiwan's vibrant democracy to the enduring strength of its citizens, recalling movements like the Wild Lily protests in 1990 and the Sunflower movement in 2014, where Taiwanese rallied against policies perceived as pro-China and harmful to Taiwan's sovereignty.
New Indian Express
24 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Suspend GO No. 20 on local status: CPM to AP government
VIJAYAWADA: The CPM has urged the State government to suspend GO No. 20, which alters the local status criteria for higher education admissions, and continue the existing local status policy. The demand follows confusion and concern among students and parents caused by the new rules. Under Article 371(D) of the Constitution, a three-region system ensured equal education and employment opportunities in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Post-bifurcation, a Presidential Order extended this for 10 years, but its validity ended last year. Telangana has since treated Andhra students as non-locals, while Andhra Pradesh issued GO No. 20 on May 21, 2025, classifying students who studied one of the last four years outside the State as non-locals. This has sparked widespread unrest. Additionally, proving local status now requires parents to provide a residential certificate showing 10 years of residence in Andhra Pradesh or study certificates proving 10 years of education in the State, it said. The CPM criticised the government for implementing these changes without public awareness or consultation.
