Latest news with #MSPSBill
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘MVA failure to oppose Urban Naxal Bill in Assembly sent wrong message, it must hit streets now': CPI(M)'s Dhawale
The smooth passage of the Maharashtra Special Public Security (MSPS) Bill in the state Assembly recently saw the members of the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes the Congress, NCP(SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT), failing to even express their dissent against the legislation dubbed as 'Urban Naxal Bill', which seeks 'effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of Left-wing extremist organisations'. The only dissenter from the Opposition ranks on the floor of the House was CPI(M) MLA Vinod Nikole. The Bill's critics have warned that it grants sweeping powers to the State that could criminalise dissent and ideological activity under the pretext of curbing Naxalism, raising fears of arbitrary arrests. In an interview with The Indian Express, CPI(M) Politburo member and All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) chief Ashok Dhawale says the MSPS Bill marks a 'direct assault on democratic rights and civil liberties', calling the MVA MLAs' silence in the House 'unfortunate'. Excerpts: The CPI(M) has come out strongly against the MSPS Bill. Could you explain the reasons behind your opposition? We are completely opposed to this Bill. At its core, it is a direct attack on democratic rights and civil liberties. The government is using the so-called 'urban Naxal' threat as a red herring, an excuse to target dissent and silence critics of the ruling BJP and their corporate backers. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has publicly stated that the Naxal issue in Maharashtra is confined to just two tehsils in Gadchiroli. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also has publicly stated that the Naxalite Maoist problem has largely been eliminated nationwide. So, the question arises if the threat is under control, why this new law now? The government claims it is a security measure. Are you saying there is more to it? This law is not about security, it is about silencing voices. There are already enough draconian laws in place — UAPA at the national level, and MCOCA in Maharashtra. Some provisions in this new Bill are even more draconian than UAPA. So clearly, it's not about lack of legal tools. We believe this is being brought in to suppress growing people's movements in the state like the farmers fighting against land acquisition for the Shaktipeeth Highway, or resistance to corporate-led projects in Dharavi, Wadhwan port, and areas like Gadchiroli and Chandrapur. These projects, pushed by big corporates, especially mining projects in districts like Gadchiroli and Chandrapur for which land acquisition process has started, often violate forest and land rights. The Bill is a tool to criminalise these legitimate struggles. While you have criticised the Mahayuti government, several of your own allies in the MVA have been criticised for not opposing the Bill. What is your take? The record of the MVA who are our allies has been mixed. I would describe what happened in the Assembly as unfortunate. However, to be fair, several top MVA leaders joined earlier protests against this Bill. On June 3, there was a massive dharna at Azad Maidan, and leaders like Supriya Sule, Jayant Patil, and Uddhav Thackeray were present where they were categorical about their opposition to the Bill. On April 22, nearly 50,000 people protested against this Bill across Maharashtra. Though that was a Left-led call, many MVA leaders joined in solidarity. However, we were disappointed that when the Bill was introduced in the Assembly, only our MLA Vinod Nikole of the CPI(M) stood up to oppose it. Not a single MLA from the MVA bloc spoke out. On the same day we had an online meeting with NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil and we raised this issue with him. We were told that several MVA MLAs who were part of the Select Committee had already opposed the Bill in that House Committee. But we believe that not opposing it on the Assembly floor sent the wrong message. It has not gone down well with the people of the state. To their credit, the very next day in the Legislative Council, the MVA rectified this mistake, where they unitedly opposed the Bill and walked out in protest. That act did some damage control, and we welcomed it. What are your expectations from the MVA now? And, are you planning to take any legal recourse against the Bill? Of course, we will examine legal options, but we are realistic. Generally, courts do not interfere in legislative processes. So we are not placing much emphasis on legal challenges. The real battle is on the streets. The farm laws passed by Parliament were ultimately repealed through mass struggle. Similarly, if we want to defeat this draconian Bill, we need a broad-based, united mass movement. We are trying to bring all forces together to make that happen. Speeches alone will not see the end of this Bill. We, including the major constituents of the MVA, will need to hit the streets. We are trying to persuade them. Let us see what happens. Would you like some provisions of the Bill to be diluted, or you want the bill to be repealed? The government had called for suggestions and objections to this Bill and it received 12,500 suggestions. Out of these, 9000 suggestions sought a complete scrapping of the Bill while another 3,000 called for amendments. We believe that the Bill in its entirety is harmful for the citizens of the state. We are not protesting so that the government tweak this law — we want it to be thrown out entirely.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Black cloth, scuffles and slogans: JNU students protest visit of Maharashtra CM
New Delhi: Black cloth fluttered and slogans of "Go back" echoed across the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus on Thursday, as students protested the visit of Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis , who visited the capital to inaugurate a new Marathi Language Centre and lay the foundation stone for another centre named after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on campus. T he protest, led by the Left-affiliated members JNU Students' Union (JNUSU), saw heavy police deployment and barricades outside the convention centre. A human chain was formed to prevent them from entering the venue, leading to a brief scuffle between students and the cops. Protesters waved black cloth at the CM and condemned the Maharashtra Special Public Safety (MSPS) Bill, calling it a tool to stifle dissent. "The protest is not against the centre which is being opened by JNU. This is against the visit of Maharashtra CM Fadnavis who silences the voice of dissent in his state — from comedians to Dalits, Muslim minorities and now the opposition, activists and protesters, through the MSPS Bill. JNU does not have any place for these hate mongers," said JNUSU president Nitish Kumar. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi The protesters also condemned the JNU VC Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit for allowing Delhi Police to enter the campus. JNUSU general secretary Munteha Fatima said, "We will resist the presence of hate mongers who push anti-people bills like the MSPS Bill, curbing civil and democratic rights and attacking constitutional values. That such figures are being welcomed by the administration is a shame, especially in a university known for its critical thinking, resistance, and commitment to pluralism" "Why is only Marathi-speaking being promoted in Maharashtra, while migrants and North Indians continue to face discrimination? This is nothing but regional chauvinism," said JNUSU vice-president Manisha.
The Hindu
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Prakash Ambedkar to move court against public security Bill
Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) founder and president Prakash Ambedkar will move court against the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill (MSPS), citing that the Bill is 'draconian' and will 'destroy the Phule-Shahu-Ambedkar spirit' and ideology of Maharashtra. The former MP called the Bill unconstitutional, vaguely defined, and inherently prone to misuse. Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday passed the MSPS Bill intending to prevent the 'unlawful activities of left-wing extremist organisations. However, Opposition parties opposed it citing ambiguity. Mr. Ambedkar criticised the Opposition for letting the Bill pass in the Assembly without any contention. In April, Mr. Ambedkar had written a nine-page letter to Chandrashekhar Bawankhule, chairperson, Joint Select Committee on MSPS Bill, and called for its immediate withdrawal. The letter mentioned that under the guise of addressing 'Naxalism', it will be used to silence those who voice opposition to State policies or raise valid concerns about potential wrongdoings. 'The Bill, if enacted into a law, will legitimise the criminalisation of citizens, organisations, policy and political actors, who dissent, protest, revolt and express their opposition against the policies of the government,' he posted on X.
Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Why Maharashtra ‘urban Naxal' Bill's smooth sailing has put MVA in the dock
The smooth passage of the Maharashtra Special Public Security (MSPS) Bill in the state Legislative Assembly as well as the Council seems to have exposed the lack of coordination and political will among the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance against the Mahayuti government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. On Thursday, the MSPS Bill, which seeks 'effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of Left-wing extremist organisations', was passed in the Assembly by a voice vote. The Bill sailed through the Lower House amid the Opposition's concerns over the definition and interpretation of some of its terms and clauses. The only dissenting note came from lone CPI(M) MLA Vinod Nikole. With 235 MLAs in the 288-member Assembly, the BJP-led Mahayuti holds an absolute majority in the House. Yet, the 53 MLAs representing the MVA missed the opportunity to put up a spirited fight, failing even to express their dissent in the Assembly during the passage of the Bill. Twenty-four hours later, the Bill was also passed by the state Legislative Council amid an Opposition walkout. In what appeared to be a course correction, the Opposition in the Upper House submitted a note of dissent against the Bill to Chairperson Ram Shinde. But this only exemplified the Opposition's lack of a uniform strategy on a crucial legislation like this, which has been dubbed a Bill against 'urban Naxalism'. Fadnavis put forth his views in favour of the Bill in the Assembly. 'The legislation is against those Left-wing extremist organisations, which are provoking people for armed revolt to demolish democracy, Parliament and institutions,' he said. 'There are six such organisations that have been banned in other states operating in Maharashtra. In total, there are 64 outfits, which are, under the guise of people's socio-economic uplift, engaged in destructive and dangerous unlawful activities.' With the Opposition failing to put the government under pressure over the MSPS Bill, what remains to be seen now is how the protest against the legislation would play out on the streets. To begin with, a delegation of the Opposition leaders is planning to head to the Raj Bhavan to convey their concerns to Governor C P Radhakrishnan next week. The MVA's constituents – including the Congress, NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) – also plan to reach out to various Left organisations and launch a statewide campaign against the government. Whether the Opposition could successfully mobilise mass support remains to be seen. NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil said, 'We were members of the Joint Select Committee and strongly voiced our concerns. But its last meeting's date change took many of us off guard. We had our scheduled programmes… Yet, we brought to their notice our concern.' The Bill was referred to a Joint Select Committee comprising members of both the Mahayuti and MVA after it was introduced in the Assembly during last year's monsoon session. Although the panel received 12,000 suggestions and objections from various quarters, it finally recommended only three changes to the Bill. In a candid admission, a senior Congress leader and former minister lamented, 'There is no unity within the MVA. Each party is doing what it feels is right. In the Assembly, had we collectively registered our dissent, it would have given us the moral standing to question the government's intention behind such legislation.' However, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, who is an MLC, argued, 'The battle is far from over. We support the government in the fight against Naxalism and terrorism. But if the government, through this legislation, is going to abuse power to harass opponents, it is unacceptable.' Uddhav also said, 'If they (government) bulldoze a legislation through majority support on the floor of the House, we will exercise our rights to take the fight to the people.' Notably, it was under the Opposition's pressure, primarily by Uddhav and his cousin Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), that the Fadnavis government withdrew its controversial government resolutions (GRs) inducting Hindi in primary schools as part of the three-language policy. However, in the case of the GRs, it was the Thackerays' emotive pitch for the Marathi unity and pride that likely forced the government's hand. As regards the MSPS Bill, the Opposition reckons that the legislation, when enforced, could lead to a 'misuse of power against political rivals', and create a political environment in which anybody questioning the government could be tagged an 'urban Naxal' and face government action. To substantiate their apprehensions, Opposition leaders point to the absence of terms 'terror' or 'Naxal' in the legislation. Instead, it uses the terms 'Left-wing extremist' and 'frontal organisations'. Uddhav said, 'There is no mention of the words 'Naxal' or 'terror'… We are not against the fight against Naxal or terrorism, but if the government uses its majority rule to silence critics, we are not going to accept it.' In the past, legislation like the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) and Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) were misused by those in power to arrest and imprison political opponents. 'Similarly, the Fadnavis government will misuse the MSPS legislation against its opponents,' the Sena (UBT) chief alleged. Fadnavis, however, said in the Assembly that the legislation is directed at tackling the Left-wing extremist organisations, assuring that it was not intended to target the Left or any other political opponents. After passage in the Assembly and Council, the MSPS Bill will be referred to the Governor for assent, following which it will come into effect as a law. Maharashtra would be the fifth state to pass such a public security Bill after Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
