Connect with us
Thursday,05-June-2025
Breaking News

Maharashtra

Urban Naxals: Sule urges Maha to review security Bill amid Secretariat’s move to seek public views

Published

on

Mumbai, March 15: NCP(SP) MP Supriya Sule on Saturday attacked the state government saying that the Bill to check the ‘Urban Naxal’ menace known as the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act, 2024 undermines the fundamental rights of citizens.

Supriya Sule said that through this Bill, the right of common people to speak against the government will be taken away.

In a truly healthy democracy, dissenting opinions are respected and the principle of democracy also values Opposition voices, as they ensure that those in power remain accountable and respect public opinion, Supriya Sule added.

She has urged the government to review the draft of this Bill and ensure that constitutional values are not violated.

Sule chose to target the government after the Maharashtra Legislative Secretariat, through an advertisement in national newspapers, appealed to the citizens and non-government organisations among others, to submit suggestions and objections till April 1 on the Bill.

The Secretariat’s move comes after the state Assembly during the Winter Session decided to refer it to a committee headed by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule for further deliberations.

In her post regarding the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act, 2024 on X, Sule said, “In the proposed ‘Prevention of certain unlawful activities by individuals and organisations and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto’, the definition of “illegal acts” seems to grant unlimited powers to government agencies.

“This effectively gives the government a licence to establish a Police Raj, which could be misused against individuals, institutions, or organisations that express constructive Opposition in a democratic manner.

“This Bill undermines the very concept of “We, the People of India.” By granting the administration unchecked powers, there is a risk that individuals may be harassed out of sheer vindictiveness.

“Criticising government policies and decisions, peacefully protesting, or organising marches could all be deemed illegal acts. This Bill disregards the principles of ideological diversity and directly infringes upon citizens’ constitutional rights.”

“Furthermore, the Bill grants the government the power to interfere in certain judicial processes, posing a direct threat to judicial independence. Some of its provisions encroach upon fundamental constitutional rights such as Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Association, and the Right to Fair Trial.”

“Historically, the British attempted to introduce a similar law (The Rowlatt Act) to suppress opposition during colonial rule. This Bill is a direct denial of the core principles of the Indian Constitution, and we strongly condemn it. We urge the government to review the draft of this Bill and ensure that constitutional values are not violated,” said Sule.

The Bill, which was presented by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the state Assembly on December 18 last year, proposes to contain ‘Urban Naxal’ menace and provide more effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of individuals and organisations.

He said that the Bill is not aimed to suppress genuine dissent but to weed out the ‘Urban Naxal’ bastions.

The Bill proposes jail term and penalty payable by unlawful organisations and powers to take possession of places and forfeit funds.

The Bill is crafted on the lines of the Public Security Act passed by Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha for effective monitoring of unlawful activities of Naxal frontal organisations or similar organisations.

Maharashtra

Abu Asim’s letter to the state chief minister and DGP, threatening Nanded Muslims not to sacrifice, demanding action against miscreants to ensure peace

Published

on

In Nanded, Maharashtra, Bajrang Dal goons have threatened Muslims with weapons in the area so that Muslims do not sacrifice on Eid-ul-Adha, which is a threat to the state’s atmosphere and there is also a fear of communal violence. In such a situation, the police and administration should take strict action to maintain law and order and curb the miscreants because terrorism by Bajrang Dal goons is on the rise here.

To ensure law and order in the Degulur taluka of Dharmabad district of Nanded district of the state, state Chief Minister and Police Chief DGP have been demanded by MLA and Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi to take action against sectarians and miscreants. Azmi has made a serious allegation that Bajrang Dal workers are patrolling the Dharmabad area with weapons and are threatening Muslims and trying to intimidate and spoil the atmosphere so that they do not sacrifice on Eid-ul-Adha, and Hindu extremists have warned Muslims not to sacrifice. Abu Asim Azmi has also sent a letter to the Chief Minister and DGP, demanding immediate intervention from the administration in this matter.

He has said in the letter that a local from Dharmaabad, Sheikh Lal Ahmed, has informed him about the mischief of the miscreants. He has alleged that the miscreants of Bajrang Dal are instructing not to offer sacrifices on Eid-ul-Adha and are also threatening Muslims. He said that the terrorism of Bajrang Dal and RSS should be banned and action should be taken against those who spoil the environment so that peace and security is maintained in Dharmaabad on Eid-ul-Adha. Azmi has appealed that strict police security arrangements be made in Dharmaabad on Eid-ul-Adha so that social harmony is maintained and Muslims can celebrate their festival peacefully.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Animal markets will remain open for sacrifice, Gauseva Aayog withdraws controversial order

Published

on

Mumbai: The Mumbai GauSeva Ayog has withdrawn its controversial order to keep cattle markets closed from June 3 to June 8 until Eid-ul-Adha. It has only said that it should be ensured that there is no slaughter of prohibited animals during the sacrifice. After a meeting of Muslim representatives along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Chief Minister had issued an order to withdraw the circular, after which the Gau Seva Ayog has withdrawn its controversial circular and order. This circular had said that animal markets in all districts of the state should be closed till June 8 to prohibit cow slaughter on Eid-ul-Adha. Muslims opposed this and during the meeting of Muslim representatives, the Chief Minister had announced the withdrawal of this order. Therefore, the GauSeva Ayog has officially withdrawn the circular and instead issued a new circular, which has lifted the ban on animal markets. Along with this, strict implementation of the cow slaughter law has also been demanded.

The state government is responsible for implementing the cow slaughter law and the police and administration are ready for it, but after the GauSeva Aayog issued such a controversial circular, Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Rais Sheikh had declared it illegal and said that the circular issued is completely illegal and controversial, while the Aayog has no authority to issue orders, it can only make recommendations. In such a situation, after the order of the Chief Minister, now animal markets will continue during the sacrifice period and there is no ban on the market of buffaloes including goats, therefore Muslims have been appealed not to pay attention to rumors.

Deonar Slaughterhouse General Manager Kaleem Pathan also said that the Deonar Goat Market will continue and the order issued by the Gau Seva Aayog has been withdrawn, so the public should not pay attention to rumors about the Deonar Goat Market. He said that along with the facilities in the Goat Market in Deonar, arrangements have been made for the convenience of buyers. Along with stalls, other facilities are also available here. He said that more than 150,000 goats have arrived in the Deonar Goat Market and along with this, more than 80,000 goats are left.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Rain started in Mumbai

Published

on

Mumbai: Heavy rains have been continuing in Mumbai since last night. Mumbai city has recorded 20.93 mm of rain, East 23.40 mm and West 20.10 mm of rain. Despite the rain continuing in the city and suburbs, life is normal. Train and bus services are normal. Due to rain in the city, there have also been complaints of water accumulation on the roads due to lack of cleaning of drains in low-lying areas. According to BMC, rain will continue in the city and the rain will be intermittent. Therefore, BMC has claimed to make all the arrangements, but due to lack of repair of roads in the city, citizens are facing a lot of problems.

Continue Reading

Trending