Shakti Bill Stalled Despite Legislative Approval
Speaking to the media, former Maharashtra Home Minister and senior NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh criticized the delay in the bill’s approval. He highlighted that the Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2020, and the Special Court & Machinery for Implementation of Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law, 2020, were introduced and passed during the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government’s tenure. However, the bill is still pending Presidential assent, leaving Maharashtra without a legal provision for capital punishment in such crimes."The Pune bus rape case once again raises alarms about women’s safety. Despite introducing a strict legal framework under the Shakti Bill, its implementation remains stalled. When I was the Home Minister, I studied Andhra Pradesh’s Disha law, which aims at preventing atrocities against women, but Maharashtra still lacks similar stringent provisions," Deshmukh stated.
Deshmukh further claimed that 1,500 cases of crimes against women have been reported in Maharashtra in the past two years, stressing the need for an independent Home Minister, as Chief Minister Eknath Shinde currently holds multiple portfolios.
Congress Slams Government for Delay in Bill Implementation
Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar also blamed the state government for failing to implement the Shakti Bill, calling it a major lapse by the Mahayuti coalition."The Mahayuti government’s inability to secure the President’s approval for the bill is a clear failure. Instead of pushing for its enactment, the government now plans to withdraw it. We demand that amendments be made and that the bill be reintroduced in the upcoming Budget Session, starting March 3," Wadettiwar asserted in Nagpur.
Minister's Remarks on Pune Rape Case Spark Outrage
Wadettiwar also slammed Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam over his controversial remarks regarding the Pune bus rape case. Kadam had earlier stated that the crime happened "silently" without any argument or use of force, which prevented people around from noticing or intervening.Criticizing Kadam’s comments, Wadettiwar accused him of shielding the accused and demanded that Chief Minister Shinde and his deputies clarify their stance on the matter. "Does the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Ministers agree with such statements?" he questioned.
The opposition has urged the state government to prioritize women’s safety and ensure the passage of the Shakti Bill in the upcoming budget session to establish a stronger legal deterrent against crimes targeting women and children.
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