Public Security Bill against Left Wing Extremism, says CM; uses Islam-ISIS comparison to allay fears

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill passed by the state legislature in the ongoing Monsoon Session is not against Left parties or anti-government voices but aims to target Left Wing Extremism, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday.

Replying to the debate on the opposition-sponsored Last Week Motion in the assembly, Fadnavis said there is a difference between Left and Leftist extremism, just like there is a difference between Islam and (proscribed terrorist group) ISIS.

"The Special Public Security Bill is a liberal law. MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) is more strict. I want to tell those who are opposing the bill that it will not be misused. The new law is not empowered to arrest individuals," the CM said in the House.

Incidentally, a delegation of opposition leaders on Friday submitted a letter to Governor CP Radhakrishnan against the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill 2024 which they claimed was "oppressive, ambiguous and open to misuse".

The opposition leaders accused the state government of attempting to legitimise extraordinary executive powers under the guise of public security.

The chief minister also expressed sadness over the scuffle in the legislature complex on Thursday as well as the targeting of the speaker in the media.

On Thursday, supporters of NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad and BJP legislator Gopichand Padalkar came to blows inside the Maharashtra legislature complex, a day after a heated exchange between the two lawmakers. The incident occurred at 5.45 pm on the ground floor of the legislature building.

"The onus of maintaining parliamentary decorum, conduct and communication lies with us," the CM asserted.

Nitin Deshmukh and Sarjerao (Rishikesh) Takle, associates of Awhad and Padalkar, respectively, were allegedly involved in the scuffle and have been detained by the security personnel of the state legislature.

Takale has six criminal cases against his name and Deshmukh is named in eight cases, Fadnavis said.

"These people fight in the Vidhan Sabha. We can't prevent the public from visiting the Vidhan Bhavan because of such people. Appropriate security is needed. There should be identification of each and every person found in the Vidhan Bhavan complex," the chief minister said.

In a veiled reference to Shiv Sena (UBT) MLAs, the CM said he will apologise to the Chair for being targeted by some members.

"If one MLA misbehaves, the image of all MLAs turns bad," Fadnavis said while stating that introspection was needed.

Referring to the booklet given to him by the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) on Hindi in state schools, Fadnavis said the booklet should have contained the Mashelkar Committee report that had recommended making Hindi a mandatory subject from Class I to XII.

"Even a Shiv Sena (UBT) leader was part of the committee. It would have been good if they had attached press clippings of the Mashelkar committee report being accepted," Fadnavis said in a swipe at the then Thackeray dispensation.