New legislation jolt to democracy: Shiv Sena

Even as the Maharashtra government got slammed by activists for its proposed internal security law — which they called ‘draconian’ — it was not spared the blushes by its own ally Shiv Sena either.

The Sena on Friday said the proposed legislation for internal security would be a “jolt to democracy” and, if implemented, the situation in the state would be worse than that during the Emergency.

“If the government, in the name of internal security, tries to impose an Emergency in the state, its attempt should be opposed. This law is worse than the Emergency of 1975 which (former PM) Indira Gandhi had imposed,” the Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana.

“Those in power today (the BJP) had levelled various allegations against the then government although there were no complaints to prove that the common man faced any hardship,” the ruling coalition partner stated in its edit.

It alleged that the current Fadnavis government was betraying the trust of the people with the proposed Maharashtra Protection of Internal Security Act.

“This is an attempt to kill the freedom of people and is a jolt to democracy. What has suddenly happened that has threatened the internal security of the state If Emergency has to be imposed, do it in Kashmir, or in Gujarat, where journalists are being killed and atrocities are taking place on Dalits,” the edit said.

The Sena claimed that the proposed law gives unprecedented powers to the police to clamp down on persons taking part in marriages or naming ceremonies of children. “Tomorrow, if Amitabh Bachchan is being followed by 100 or more fans, or if you see more than a 100 enthusiastic people outside Sena office, will you put them all behind bars ” the Sena asked.

The proposed legislation would be the first such state-level law for internal security which would give unprecedented power to the police department, if implemented.