Sat Mar 15 16:34:01 UTC 2025: **NCP MP Opposes Maharashtra’s Anti-Urban Naxalism Bill, Citing Threat to Democratic Rights**

Mumbai, March 15, 2025 – Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Member of Parliament Supriya Sule has strongly criticized a proposed Maharashtra state law aimed at combating urban Naxalism, arguing that it grants excessive power to authorities and undermines fundamental rights. The bill, titled “Prevention of Certain Unlawful Activities by Individuals And Organisations,” defines “illegal acts” in a way that Sule claims could be used to suppress dissent and create a “Police Raj.”

Sule, in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), highlighted concerns that the bill could criminalize peaceful protests, criticism of government policies, and the organization of marches. She drew parallels to the repressive Rowlatt Act enacted during British colonial rule, stating that the proposed legislation contradicts the core principles of the Indian Constitution.

The bill, initially tabled in July 2024 and reintroduced in December 2024 by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, aims to address what the government describes as the spread of Naxal influence into urban areas. Fadnavis maintains the law is not intended to stifle genuine dissent, emphasizing the need for a specific law to tackle urban Naxalism in Maharashtra, unlike existing federal laws like the UAPA.

However, Sule argued that the bill’s broad definition of “illegal acts” and its provisions for punishing individuals who even indirectly aid organizations deemed “unlawful” (with penalties up to two years imprisonment and a ₹2 lakh fine) pose a serious threat to freedom of expression, association, and the right to a fair trial. She also expressed concern over provisions allowing government interference in judicial processes.

The bill includes the creation of an advisory board comprised of former or qualified judges, a point Sule did not explicitly address in her criticism. The bill’s objective, as stated within the document itself, focuses on countering the alleged logistical and safe-haven support provided to armed Naxal cadres by urban networks.

Sule urged the Maharashtra government to revise the bill to ensure it aligns with constitutional values and does not infringe upon fundamental citizens’ rights. The opposition to the bill is likely to intensify as it progresses through the legislative process.

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