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Fadnavis has made it clear that the Bill is not for taking action against those who criticise the govt, but warned that those who act like urban Naxals will be arrested under it.
Devendra Fadnavis said government will move Supreme Court in 2006 Mumbai blast case (PTI File Image)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified that the Special Public Security Bill aims to tackle “urban Naxalism” and won’t be used for taking action against those who criticise the government.
The Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024, which seeks to prevent unlawful activities of Left Wing Extremist organisations with a focus on urban Naxalism and “passive militancy”, was passed by the state legislature during the recent monsoon session of the state legislature.
The bill has stringent provisions, including hefty fines and a jail term of up to seven years for those found guilty, sparking criticism from civil society groups and opposition parties who see it as a tool to suppress dissent under the pretext of national security.
Talking to reporters in Nagpur on Saturday, Fadnavis said the law was not against demonstrators or those who criticise the government, news agency PTI reported.
“If you act like an urban naxal, you will be arrested,” he said when asked about Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray’s challenge to the CM to arrest his party workers under the newly passed legislation.
On Raj Thackeray’s charge that the CM wanted to forcibly teach young children Hindi but not Marathi to those coming from outside, Fadnavis said Marathi is mandatory in Maharashtra, but an additional Indian language should be learnt along with it.
“I am opposed to laying a red carpet for English instead of an Indian language,” he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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