Supriya Sule slams Bill against urban Naxalism in Maharashtra

NCP(SP) MP Supriya Sule opposed the law proposed by the BJP government against urban Naxalism in Maharashtra
| Photo Credit: ANI

NCP(SP) MP Supriya Sule on Saturday (March 15, 2025) opposed the law proposed by the BJP government against urban Naxalism in Maharashtra, and said that under the proposed ‘Prevention of Certain Unlawful Activities by Individuals And Organisations and For Matters Connected Therewith or Incidental Thereto’ Bill, the definition of “illegal acts” seems to grant unlimited powers to government agencies.

“This effectively gives the government a license to establish a Police Raj, which could be misused against individuals, institutions, or organizations that express constructive opposition in a democratic manner. This bill undermines the very concept of “We, the People of India,” Ms. Sule said on X (formerly Twitter).

The Maharashtra government has decided to introduce a new Bill that undermines the fundamental rights of citizens, she said. “Through this bill, the right of common people to speak against the government will be taken away. In a truly healthy democracy, dissenting opinions are respected. The principle of democracy also values opposition voices, as they ensure that those in power remain accountable and respect public opinion,” Ms. Sule said.

The State government tabled the Bill in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on July 11 last year. Then Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Law and Judiciary Devendra Fadnavis justified the requirement by saying that Naxalism is not limited to remote areas of the State but has reached the cities through frontal organisations.

After becoming Chief Minister, Mr. Fadnavis re-introduced the Bill during the winter session of the State legislature in December 2024, and said that the law was aimed at closing the dens of urban Naxals. He said that the proposed legislation was not for suppressing genuine dissenting voices. He emphasised that a law was needed to tackle Naxalism in Maharashtra since the State lacked one.

“We have IPC (Indian Penal Code) and UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act). UAPA is for handling cases related to terror activities. States like Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have enacted Public Security Acts for effective prevention of unlawful activities, and banned 48 frontal organisations,” he said.

Ms. Sule on Saturday said that by granting the administration unchecked powers, there is a risk that individuals may be harassed out of sheer vindictiveness. “Criticizing government policies and decisions, peacefully protesting, or organizing marches could all be deemed illegal acts. This bill disregards the principles of ideological diversity and directly infringes upon citizens’ constitutional rights,” she said.  

Furthermore, the bill grants the government the power to interfere in certain judicial processes, posing a direct threat to judicial independence, Ms. Sule added. 

The Bill’s objective reads, “The spread of active frontal organizations of the naxal groups gives constant and effective support in terms of logistics and safe refuge to their armed cadres. The seized literature of naxals shows “safe houses” and “urban dens” of the Maoist network in the cities of the State of Maharashtra. The activities of naxal organizations or similar organizations through their united front are creating unrest among common masses to propagate their ideology of armed rebellion against the constitutional mandate and disrupts public order in the State.” 

Ms. Sule said that some of its provisions encroach upon fundamental constitutional rights such as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and the right to a fair trial.  

“Historically, the British attempted to introduce a similar law (The Rowlatt Act) to suppress opposition during colonial rule. This bill is a direct denial of the core principles of the Indian Constitution, and we strongly condemn it. We urge the government to review the draft of this bill and ensure that constitutional values are not violated,” she said. 

Section 5 of the Bill proposes constituting an advisory board that will have ex-judges or anyone who qualifies to be a judge can also be appointed. Furthermore, Section 8 states that those individuals who are not even members of ‘unlawful’ organisations can be prosecuted and imprisoned for up to two years along with a fine of up to ₹2 lakh for contributing or soliciting any aid or contribution or harbouring any member of such organisations.