New Delhi: The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which will replace the Indian Penal Code, will come into force on 1 July, President Droupadi Murmu said Thursday during her first joint address to Parliament after the new Lok Sabha was elected, officially making the Modi government’s intent clear on rolling out the new criminal law as planned.
The President’s statement came in the backdrop of demands from opposition parties including the Congress and Trinamool Congress to defer the implementation of the three new criminal laws — the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). However, Murmu’s announcement pertained to only one of the three.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had last week written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the Centre to not go ahead with the laws’ implementation as they were passed with undue haste. Principal opposition party Congress made the same demand last week as well. Jairam Ramesh, chief whip of the Congress in Rajya Sabha, had sought to refer the three new laws to the new parliamentary standing committee on home affairs, once it is constituted, for re-examination.
The BNS, BNSS and BSA — which will replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872 respectively — were given Presidential assent last December and are set to take effect 1 July.
LIVE: President Droupadi Murmu addresses both Houses of the Parliament https://t.co/4hNviAsCmv
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 27, 2024
“The idea of changing this (new criminal law) was much talked about for many decades, but it is my government which has shown the courage to do it. Now justice will get priority over punishment, which also conforms to the spirit of our Constitution,” Murmu said, adding that the new laws will speed up the judicial process.
She added: “Today, when the country is becoming free of the colonial mindset in different aspects, this is a big step in that direction. It is also a real tribute to our freedom fighters.”
In her address that lasted over 40 minutes, Murmu also took cognisance of the recent incidents of paper leaks and alleged irregularities in the conduct of exams like the NEET and UGC-NET and reiterated the government’s commitment to a “fair investigation” as well as “stringent punishment for the guilty”.
Murmu also called upon opposition parties to “rise over partisan politics”. There is a need for a nationwide concrete solution to address paper leaks, she said, adding that the Parliament has already formed a strict law against irregularities in examinations.
The President also used the occasion to air her concerns about “disruptive forces”, which she said are conspiring to weaken democracy and create fissures in society. “…These forces are present within the country and are also operating from outside the country….It is our responsibility to stop this tendency and find new ways and means to address this challenge.”
Murmu further said that the 1975 Emergency was the biggest attack and a blot on the Constitution. Her remarks came close on the heels of the spat between the BJP and Congress after Modi, in his address in Lok Sabha earlier this week, spoke about the horrors of Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi. In retaliation, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi along with the other opposition leaders said the country has seen an undeclared emergency since the Modi government came to power.
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‘Futuristic vision’ budget
Outlining the new government’s course of action, Murmu also mentioned that its first budget presented in the forthcoming session will see many historic steps along with major economic and social decisions. “This budget will be an effective document of the government’s far-reaching policies and futuristic vision…. The pace of reforms will be further accelerated in tune with the aspirations of people of India for rapid development.”
The President said her government believes there should be healthy competition among states to attract investors from all over the world. “This is the true spirit of competitive cooperative federalism. We will continue to move ahead with the belief that the development of the country lies in the development of the States,” she added.
My Government believes that there should be healthy competition among the states to attract investors from all over the world. This is the true spirit of competitive cooperative federalism. pic.twitter.com/DRNe89lNh7
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 27, 2024
The President also highlighted reforms undertaken by the government in the last 10 years in different sectors including social, infrastructure and defence.
Murmu expressed gratitude to the Election Commission for successfully conducting the “biggest election in the world”. She mentioned how decades-old records of voting have been broken in J&K. “India’s enemies propagated it as the opinion of Kashmir, on international forums. But this time, Kashmir valley gave a befitting reply to all such forces…” she said.
On Parliament disruptions
The President also took note of disruptions in parliamentary proceedings by the Opposition during the term of the previous Lok Sabha. The parliamentary sessions witnessed near complete washout as opposition benches disrupted proceedings on the ground that their voices were not being heard.
Opposition of policies and obstruction of parliamentary functioning are two different things, Murmu said. “When Parliament conducts its business smoothly, when healthy deliberations take place here, when far-reaching decisions are taken, then the people repose confidence not only in the government but also in the entire system,” she remarked, adding: “Therefore, I am confident that every moment of Parliament will be fully utilised and public interest will be given priority.”
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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