Mumbai, Aug 14 (PTI) The Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill will trample on the people’s freedom of expression, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) president Sharad Pawar said on Thursday.
He was speaking at a conclave held here to oppose the Bill which was passed by both Houses of the Maharashtra legislature in its monsoon session.
Pawar conceded that the bill was not opposed effectively when it was first introduced in the legislative assembly last month by the BJP-led government, but added that the necessary course correction was done in the legislative council.
The former Union minister also alleged that “regressive forces” were infiltrating the judiciary. Referring to the Supreme Court collegium recommending former Maharashtra BJP spokesperson Aarti Sathe for a High Court judge’s post, he claimed it would affect impartiality of the judiciary.
Besides Sathe, two other lawyers, Ajit Bhagwan Rao Kadethankar and Sushil Manohar Ghodeswar, were on Wednesday appointed as additional judges of the Bombay High Court.
The statement of objectives of the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill claims that public order is being jeopardised by unlawful activities of Left-wing extremist organizations or similar organisations, and hence special legal provisions were necessary.
The bill defines `unlawful activity’ as any action taken by an individual or organization, whether by committing an act or by words, which constitutes a danger or menace to public order, peace and tranquility.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, who also spoke at the conclave, said the Bill had no reference to sedition. Had there been such a reference, his party would have supported it, he said.
The Constitution guarantees equality to all and does not distinguish between the Left and Right wing ideologies, Thackeray said. PTI PR KRK KRK
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.