"BJP security bill": Uddhav Thackeray raises concerns over passage of Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 11 (ANI): After the Maharashtra assembly cleared the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill of 2024, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday took a swipe against the ruling Mahayuti government, saying that the bill should be renamed as "BJP security bill".
He further accused the ruling Mahayuti government of "misusing majority" while alerting that the government could "pick up" commoners and imprison them.
"They can pick up anyone, including ordinary people, and imprison them. This bill is similar to previous acts like MESA and TADA. This bill should be called the 'BJP security bill' instead of the public security bill, as they believe speaking out against the BJP is tantamount to criticising the country. Currently, we don't support this bill," Thackeray, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, told reporters here.
He flagged the issue of missing words like 'Naxalism' and 'terrorism' in the bare act, against which the government is supposed to take action.
"They are misusing their majority rather than using it. It seems that the government says something and does something different. They say that the bill has been brought to end Naxalism and terrorism. However, the bill doesn't mention either Naxalism or terrorism. They have only mentioned 'left-wing extremist ideology' (or left-wing extremism)," Thackeray said.
"We need to differentiate between left-wing ideology and right-wing ideology. Generally, we all (Sena, BJP) lean towards the right-wing since we believe in religion. However, our constitution mentions ideals like equality, social justice, and personal liberty. Even Modi had said, 'sabka sath sabka vikas'. Is this leftist thinking or right-wing? I can't make out the difference," he added.
The Shiv Sena UBT chief stressed that the government includes specific words like "Naxalism" and "Terrorism" to make the bill clear.
"I stand with the government if it is about fighting those who remain a threat to the country. However, it seems like you are bringing this bill inspired by a political agenda since there's no mention of Naxalism," Thackeray said.
This comes after the Maharashtra Assembly passed the Special Public Security Bill on Thursday, aiming to counter radical left ideologies and organisations allegedly promoting unlawful activities across the state. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tabled the Bill in the Legislative Assembly.
The bill, which was first introduced during the Winter Session in Nagpur in December 2024, returned to the House after a Joint Committee, led by BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule, reviewed over 12,000 suggestions for amendments.
The Chief Minister said the new bill was designed to fill the legislative gap left by the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which primarily deals with active terror activities but lacks scope in tackling ideological indoctrination and subversive movements. (ANI)