Lok Sabha Discussion On Criminal Law Bills : Live Updates [Day 2]

#BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy says that the three criminal law reform bills would address a number of loopholes in the extant laws, extends gratitude to PM and HM.

#SADM MP Sardar Simranjit Singh Mann calls for the bills to be debated when the opposition members are present, objecting to the 'undemocratic practice' of debating the bills in their absence.

#BJP Ramesh Bidhuri: Bharat tere tukde honge gang members used to get the opportunity to use secessionist rhetoric and spread the ideology. Naxalites would say they are speaking against the govt. This will now be considered as rebellion against the nation. This govt has also included this within the ambit of terrorism so that it acts as deterrence. 

#SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal: Powers have been given without checks and balances to police...these are political appointees, from the thanedaar to SSP, IG, DGP...These arbitrary powers are against liberty, democracy, dissent and opposition. Here is a living example... (points to suspension of most opposition MPs)

#SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal says she agrees with many of the aspects highlighted by AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, cautions that the bills would give unbridled powers to the police and create an authoritarian State. 

#BJP MP Kunwar Pushpendra Singh Chandel expresses his support for the bills, says that the extant criminal laws were enacted by the British to contend with the rising anti-colonial sentiment in pre-Independence India. 

#AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi also voices his apprehensions about other aspects, including -

- Non-inclusion of DK Basu guidelines

- Bar on third parties from filing mercy petitions on behalf of death row prisoners

- Bar on bail where an investigation, inquiry or trial in more than one offence or in multiple cases are pending against someone

- Provisions penalising terrorism over potential violation of civil liberties

- Lack of provision penalising sexual assault against men and stalking of men

- Provision reintroducing 'sedition' without using this nomenclature despite the govt's undertaking to the Supreme Court

- Borrowing of provisions from special act UAPA and incorporation in the proposed penal code

#AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi raises concerns over Section 187(3) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, which allows police custody beyond 15 days -

"Even under UAPA, a police superintendent has to submit an affidavit in court explaining reasons for seeking police custody of an accused after 30 days. This has also been removed here. So, under this provision, an accused will have to be in jail for longer than under UAPA. And who will be in jail? Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis and they will not get bail."

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi highlights the increasing percentage of Muslim undertrials in Indian jails, alleges prejudice against religious minorities and other vulnerable communities in the implementation of criminal laws -

"Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis are languishing in jail. They are reforming the laws for the powerful. How will the poor benefit from this? The cure is deadlier than the disease."

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi: For Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis, and the impoverished in this country, inke liya zindagi se badi koi sazaa nahi hain. If reforms had to be ushered in the criminal laws, those provisions that allow the govt's and police's arbitrary action and excesses ought to have been removed, or those that allow innocents to languish in jail for years, or the ones that allow prosecutors to include fabricated evidence to get the powerful off the hook. Today, in this country that we love, the most number of undertrials are Muslims, Dalits, and Adivasis.