Do not rush through the three criminal Bills: Mamata writes to Union Home Minister Amit Shah
The Hindu
West Bengal CM Banerjee in a letter to the Union Home Minister said, “extreme caution” and “due-diligence” should precede any change in the existing statutes
The government should not rush through the three criminal Bills that were recently cleared by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs and are expected to be tabled in Parliament in the upcoming winter session of Parliament, West Bengal Chief Minister Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah.
In a two-page letter, Ms. Banerjee said, “extreme caution” and “due-diligence” should precede any change in the existing statutes. And in the fitness of things, an outgoing government, she said, should not take the step.
Also read | Criminal law Bills and a hollow decolonisation
At least ten Opposition MPs lodged a protest by filing dissent notes against the Parliamentary panel’s report on the three laws — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill 2023.
“I strongly believe that these are very significant legislations that form the bedrock of our penal-criminal jurisprudence. As such, the proposed overhauling of the existing criminal penal statutes and replacing them with new statutes, is bound to have far-reaching long-term implications on our polity. The suggested changes will also affect the public life of India in multiple ways,” Ms. Banerjee said. She advised Mr. Shah to hold wide-ranging consultations and discussions with all stakeholders before the Parliament legislates on such issues.
Detailed views of all sections of stakeholders should have been taken to create a consensually accepted platform and a failure to do so will have very adverse implications on our polity, she added.
“Moreover, the term of the current Lok Sabha is almost coming to an end. In all fitness of things, it would be fair and appropriate that the newly elected members of the ensuing Lok Sabha and the new Government may deliberate upon these extremely important legislations and take a considered view,” Ms. Banerjee wrote.
The Opposition Congress demanded that the government open the Gandhi Vatika Museum, depicting Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and freedom struggle, built at a cost of ₹85 crore in Jaipur’s Central Park last year, during the Congress-led regime in Rajasthan. The museum has not been opened to the public, reportedly because of the administration’s engagements with the State Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Almaya Munnettam (Lay People to the Fore), group in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church opposed to the synod-recommended Mass, rejected a circular issued by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil and apostolic administrator Bosco Puthur on June 9 to implement the unified Mass in the archdiocese from July 3.
Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss.