Don't pass Anti Black Magic Bill in 'haste': Oppn to DF Govt

Opposition against passage of Anti-Black Magic Bill in ‘haste’

* The much-debated Anti-Black Magic Bill introduced in the Legislative Assembly

Staff Reporter
After a long wait of over 20 years, the revised and re-revised Anti-Black Magic Bill was introduced in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday evening. During the debate on the Bill that continued well past 8.30 pm, Shiv Sena voiced its clear opposition while other Opposition parties expressed ‘displeasure’ and sought certain explanations, amendments in the Bill. The Ruling side supported the Bill.
After withdrawing the 2011 Bill, Social Justice Minister Shivajirao Moghe introduced the much-awaited Anti-Black Magic Bill, 2013 in the House. The Opposition members including Devendra Fadnavis, Gopal Shetty, Yogesh Sagar, Dr Sudhakar Bhalerao (all BJP), Subhash Desai (Shiv Sena), and Vivek Pandit sought to refer the Bill to Joint Committee comprising members from both the Houses of State Legislature and seek report within six months.
Initiating the debate on the Bill, Fadnavis discussed it threadbare. He accused the Democratic Front (DF) Government of lacking decision-making will-power. “Hence, it issued Ordinance after Dr Narendra Dabholkar’s murder, without obtaining informed opinion. This haste has left many a ambiguity in the Bill. There is no explanation whatsoever as to how the provisions in this Bill are different from those in Indian Penal Code as far as human sacrifice is concerned,” he said. He alleged that the Government was using the Bill as an instrument to portray itself as progressive and those suggesting amendments to make it a better law as regressive. “Any legal instrument to meet desired goal or objective should be perfect. But, in this case, the Bill is inadequate and ambiguous,” he said.
According to Fadnavis, there were no provisions in Anti-Black Magic Bill to aid prosecution or to increase conviction rate in cases of human sacrifice. Besides, it was not clear whether the Government wanted to make the society ‘faithless’. Referring to article of activist Shyam Manav in Government’s official publication ‘Lokrajya’, Fadnavis demanded that interpretations/explanations of various provisions cited by Manav in the article should be incorporated in the Bill as ‘Saving Clause’. “This will serve the purpose of making the Bill better. At the same time, the Government should try remove misconceptions among people and incorporate amendments suggested. Else, it should sent the Bill to Joint Committee seeking report within six months. Do not pass it in haste,” he said.
Abu Azmi (SP) spoke elaborately on the Bill and wanted to know how did the Government plan to differentiate between good-natured and ill-intentioned spiritual or religious leaders. He wanted to know if action would be initiated against Muslims participating in Moharram processions or performing ‘Khatna’ as these rituals involved physical injury. “Even if the law is well-intentioned and is passed, can we guarantee proper implementation of any law by police?” he asked while stressing for safeguards to be incorporated so that devout people did not suffer.
Girish Bapat (BJP) said that Hindus should not be targeted making use of the provisions in the law. Deepak Kesarkar, Meenakshi Patil (PWP), Bachchu Kadu also participated in the debate.

Don’t push ‘vague’
Bill: Sena to DF
Subhash Desai called the preface of the Bill as ‘vague’ and said that there were no clear explanations for various terms used. Opposing the Bill, he said that if the Government pushed the Bill, Shiv Sena would not co-operate. He blamed Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and DF Government for misleading the cops and failure in tracing Dr Dabholkar’s murderers. Ravindra Waykar (Shiv Sena) stressed for constitution of a Vigilance Committee with representation to religious leaders also.

Ruling side supports the Bill

Nawab Malik (NCP) said, “Do not pass the law merely as a tribute to Dr Dabholkar. Pass it to stop exploitation of people in the name of faith.” He also said that misconceptions among people needed to be removed, and he flayed ‘some people’ misleading people by calling the Bill as anti-Hindu or anti-Muslim or anti-faith. Babanrao Pachpute (NCP), himself a Warkari, supported the Bill and appreciated Moghe and the Government for efforts made. Dr Namdeo Usendi (Congress), Pravin Darekar (MNS) supported the Bill.

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