Political Clash Intensifies! Amit Shah Defends New Criminal Laws Amid Opposition Outcry, Details

New Criminal Laws: On Monday, July 1, three new criminal laws will go into force. The Indian Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), 1973, the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), which were passed by Parliament in December, will take their respective places.

Opposition’s Strong Criticism

The political struggle has intensified following the enactment of three new criminal legislation in the nation. On this topic, the Congress-led opposition is going after the federal administration. Leaders such as Manish Tiwari and Shashi Tharoor have responded to the three new legislation in this order. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has released a statement amid the opposition's bluster, and in a news conference, he has appropriately responded to the opposition on all fronts.

Amit Shah Hails New Laws as 'Swadeshi' Legal System

According to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the three new criminal statutes that went into effect today substitute justice for punishment. 77 years after independence, the nation has a fully "swadeshi" legal system, according to Shah, who oversaw the exercise to examine the criminal law system in the nation.

"There was no provision in law for mob lynching case. It has now been defined. This was a longstanding demand. Also, we have completely removed the section of treason and brought a new section for anti-national activities. Earlier, it was a crime to make a statement against the government. Now, a law will provide for action against attempts to harm India's unity and sovereignty," he said.

Manish Tewari Labels New Laws as Pernicious and Draconian

Congress MP Manish Tewari says, "The criminal laws which have come into force are pernicious in nature and they will be draconian in their implementation. They will lay the foundations of a Police State in this country, they will provide very wide latitude to the Police across the length and breadth of the country because of the very ambiguous nature in which certain provisions have been crafted - provisions with regard to bail are absolutely perverse in their nature," quoted by ANI.

He added, "Was there a need to bring the definition of terrorism into general criminal law when there is already a special law on it? The manner in which sedition has been very loosely defined notwithstanding that it was stayed by the Supreme Court of India, the manner in which handcuffs have been brought back surreptitiously in the teeth of two judgements of Supreme Court going all the way back to 1973. So, there are problems galore with these laws."

He concluded, "That's why I have been saying this from the day they were passed by the Parliament by suspending 146 MPs, that these laws are perverse, they need to be re-examined by the House and only after their re-examination and detailed examination by a JPC, should they be implemented. There is enough reason to pause the implementation of these laws."

Shashi Tharoor Criticizes Lack of Parliamentary Discussion

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also commented on this. He said, "Our concern was that they were not fully discussed in Parliament because all the Opposition was suspended. It would benefit from a further discussion." On behalf of TMC, senior leader and MP Saugata Roy has given his reaction regarding the new criminal laws.

According to Saugata Roy, "Materjee, the chief minister, has already written a letter to the central government requesting a postponement of the law's implementation." 146 members of the opposition were not present when these measures were hastily passed. We seek a postponement because we believe that these laws are against the people."

Mahesh Jethalmani Defends Passage of New Laws

Mahesh Jethalmani has said that "This law was passed by the highest law making body of the country and it has received the assent of the President and a notification has been issued. Therefore, the entire process of passing the law has been followed in letter and spirit. So why should it be reconsidered? The opposition is only bent on opposing every good or bad thing that this government brings."