Uddhav Thackeray calls for Opposition's unity against public security bill
The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief on Monday participated in a protest against the bill at Azad Maidan, organised by left-wing parties such as the Peasants and Workers Party of India (PWP), the Communist Party of India (CPI), and the CPI (Marxist). Addressing a crowd of hundreds of people, he said that the draft of the bill has provisions for stringent action to suppress dissident voices, and urged the Opposition to maintain unity in its fight against the proposed law.
The Maharashtra government is likely to present the controversial Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024, in the monsoon session of the state legislature, which began on Monday. A joint select committee of the state legislature has finalised a revised draft of the bill after amending key provisions following strong criticism from civil society and watchdog bodies, who claimed it could be misused by the state to silence dissent and target entities critical of the government.
The statement of objectives of the revised draft now states that the bill aims to curb 'urban naxal' activities, specifically 'unlawful activities by radical leftist organisations', rather than the earlier 'unlawful activities', by any person or organisation.
At Monday's rally, Thackeray slammed the BJP for calling anyone who criticised its policy anti-national or urban naxal. 'For the BJP, the leaders whom it accuses of corruption or having relations with anti-nationals suddenly become patriotic once they join the BJP. But if someone speaks against the BJP, they call them anti-national and urban naxal,' he said.
Thackeray also announced that his party would vote against the bill in the state legislature and expressed the need for the Opposition to be united while opposing the BJP despite its huge majority in the state legislature.
'Unity of all is important. We saw [on Sunday] how the BJP government was forced to revoke the order regarding making Hindi compulsory [in schools] due to the unity of the Marathi manoos (people). Though the Opposition parties will oppose the bill in the legislature, with the help of a huge majority, the BJP government will pass it. Even after that, we need to unite against the government to fight the battle against the bill,' he said.
Also present at the rally were Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MP Supriya Sule, state president Jayant Patil, and MLA Jitendra Awhad, who announced their opposition to the bill as well. Sule concurred with Thackeray that the Opposition should unite and be ready to oppose the proposed law, adding that she would be on the forefront if there's a need to go to jail over it.
NCP (SP) state president Jayant Patil, who was in the committee that revised the draft for the bill, said the panel had suggested important changes. However, whether or not the Mahayuti government has accepted the changes will be revealed only after it presents the bill in the state legislature, he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
19 minutes ago
- The Print
Congress alleges Centre & CPIM ‘compromise' as RA Chandrasekhar takes charge as Kerala DGP
As Chandrasekhar assumed office, opposition Congress alleged his appointment was a 'political compromise' between the ruling CPI(M) in the state and the BJP-led Centre. Chandrasekhar, a 1991-batch IPS officer of the Kerala cadre and a native of Andhra Pradesh, was appointed Kerala's police chief Monday, succeeding Shaik Darvesh Saheb, who retired the same day. Chandrasekhar was on central deputation as special director in the Intelligence Bureau and took charge as DGP in Thiruvananthapuram Tuesday. Thiruvananthapuram: The appointment of Ravada A. Chandrasekhar as Kerala's new Director General of Police (DGP) has sparked a political controversy in the state, with the opposition Congress raking up the 1994 Koothuparamba police firing case in which five Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) activists were killed. All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and Alappuzha MP K.C. Venugopal alleged that Chandrasekhar was only recently posted in the Prime Minister's security team. Venugopal claimed that another officer, Nitin Agarwal, was also shortlisted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) but was overlooked due to disagreements with the central government. 'The serious matter here is that the new DGP is a political compromise between the central government and the CPI(M). There's no doubt about it,' he said. Chandrasekhar was posted as assistant superintendent of police (ASP) in Thalassery, Kannur, just two days before the Koothuparamba incident in November 1994. On the day of the incident, activists of DYFI, CPI(M) youth wing, were protesting against the then UDF government's education policy, which allowed government quota seats to be given to management. They blocked the car of then minister M.V. Raghavan who had arrived to inaugurate a cooperative bank's evening branch in Koothuparamba. Police opened fire on the protestors, killing five DYFI members and injuring several others, including a youth named Pushpan, who remained bedridden until his death in 2024. The incident remains etched in public memory and is often referenced by CPI(M) leaders and on campuses across Kerala as a symbol of police brutality against party activists. Pushpan, often referred to as a 'living martyr', continues to be commemorated in party songs. A judicial inquiry in 1997 found the police action unwarranted. Subsequently, Chandrasekhar, then deputy SP Abdul Hakkim Bathery, then sub-divisional magistrate T.T. Antony, and others were charged with murder and criminal conspiracy by a Kannur court. In 2012, the Kerala High Court quashed the charges against all the accused, citing the absence of government sanction for prosecution. Venugopal said he has no personal issue against Chandrasekhar, but the CPI(M) should clarify whether its earlier stand against the officer was wrong. 'I have no personal disrespect for the officer. He might have acted as part of his responsibility, but the allegations made by the CPM back then are all in the public domain. The CPM convinced their cadres, the martyred cadres, and the families of the martyrs about many things. If you look closely, there's a great mystery as to why they're changing their stance now.' However, CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan defended Chandrasekhar, saying the officer was new to the district at the time of the incident. 'He was appointed there just two days before the incident. He's from Andhra Pradesh and didn't even know the geography or politics of Thalassery or Kannur. We all know the firing and lathi-charge were led by T.T. Antony and Abdul Hakkim Bathery. The court itself acquitted all of them. He is not guilty until the court says so,' he said. (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: Booted & back in 2022, Kerala ADGP puts Pinarayi in tight spot again amid LDF-backed MLA's charges
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
Patole climbs onto Speaker's podium, suspended for a day
Mumbai: Congress' Nana Patole was suspended from the state assembly on Tuesday for a day after he climbed onto the podium of Speaker Rahul Narwekar and approached his desk to protest against the alleged anti-farmer remarks made by agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate and BJP MLA Babanrao Lonikar. The opposition boycotted the proceedings of the House for the rest of the day. Significantly, Patole has earlier served as Speaker of the state assembly. On Tuesday, Patole spoke out in the assembly against the alleged anti-farmer remarks and demanded an apology from chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. "Farmers in the state will not tolerate the insulting statements from Kokate and Lonikar. Fadnavis should apologise to the farmers. Prime Minister Modi may be your father but cannot be the father of farmers," Patole said. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Even as Narwekar reprimanded him for unparliamentary language, Patole climbed the podium in the assembly and approached the desk of the Speaker along with Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar. As MLAs from the ruling party and the opposition shouted slogans against each other, Narwekar adjourned the assembly for five minutes. When the assembly reconvened and the protests continued, Fadnavis rose to demand that Patole apologise to Narwekar. "Voicing feelings is one thing, but rushing towards the Speaker is totally inappropriate. We are seeing this for the first time. Patole has been Speaker himself. He should apologise," he said. However, Patole once again approached Narwekar's desk and continued to raise slogans. Narwekar then announced his suspension for a day. Lonikar had recently told farmers in Jalna district that "people who criticise our party and government should know they are getting clothes, shoes, mobile phones and monetary benefits of schemes because of us." Kokate, who belongs to the NCP, had claimed that farmers spent the money received from loan waivers on weddings. "One rupee is something even beggars don't accept but the government is giving crop insurance for that sum. This is being misused by some," he had said. Later, while addressing a press conference, Patole said, "I will raise my voice for farmers even if I am suspended daily." Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
Time of India
21 minutes ago
- Time of India
BJP protest in Dibrugarh over ‘attack' on CM's convoy
1 2 3 4 Dibrugarh: The Dibrugarh unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a demonstration on Tuesday, condemning the alleged throwing of a water bottle at the convoy of chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma by Congress workers in Golaghat a day earlier. The protest saw participation from senior BJP leaders, including state ministers, MLAs, and hundreds of party workers, who marched through the streets of Dibrugarh, raising slogans against Congress. The incident in question occurred around 1.30 pm on Monday near Rajiv Bhawan in Golaghat, where Congress workers were protesting against state cabinet minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, wearing black badges. As the chief minister's convoy passed by, a water bottle was allegedly hurled at it, sparking outrage among BJP leaders, who termed it a "serious security breach" and an "attempt to murder." The protest In Dibrugarh witnessed the participation of state power minister and Dibrugarh MLA Prasanta Phukan, industries and commerce minister Bimal Borah, Moran MLA Chakradhar Gogoi, BJP Dibrugarh district president Dulal Bora, Dibrugarh mayor Saikat Patra, deputy mayor Ujjal Phukon, and Dibrugarh Development Authority chairman Ashim Hazarika, along with a large number of BJP workers. Minister Phukan condemned the incident, calling it a "premeditated attack" on the chief minister. "This is not just a minor incident—it is an attempt to murder. The way Congress workers targeted the chief minister's convoy shows their frustration and criminal mindset. We demand strict action against those responsible and enhanced security for the CM," Phukan said. Echoing his sentiments, industries minister Bimal Borah accused Congress of resorting to "hooliganism" after repeated electoral defeats. "Congress has lost its political ground in Assam, and now they are indulging in such cheap tactics. Throwing objects at a chief minister's convoy is not just disrespectful but a criminal act. The law must take its course," Borah said. The protesters carried placards reading "Congress Stop Hooliganism" and "Punish the Culprits", while chanting slogans against Congress. BJP's Dibrugarh district president Dulal Bora warned that such actions would not be tolerated. "The people of Assam have rejected Congress, and now they are trying to disrupt peace. Congress must introspect and stop such violent tactics. They should apologise for this shameful act," Bora said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
