New Criminal Laws to be Introduced From July 1: Consulted All, Says Minister, Congress Hits Back
New Delhi: Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has said that the new criminal laws will be introduced from July 1.
Meghwal also dismissed the opposition’s allegations that that they were not consulted before the decision was made, reported PTI.
The Congress maintained that the laws were 'arbitrarily' passed in the parliament after suspending 146 opposition MPs.
Union Minister Meghwal had said on Sunday that the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Evidence Act will be replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Act.
"Some people claim they were not consulted. This is untrue. The demand for change of colonial laws has been long-standing, and the process began long ago," said Meghwal on the allegation of the opposition.
"We contacted all MPs, but only 142, including members from both houses, responded. Suggestions were also requested from all MLAs nationwide, with only 270 responding. We consulted widely, but not everyone provided feedback," added Meghwal.
The legislations were passed by the Lok Sabha last year in the absence of 97 opposition MPs who had been suspended amid demands for a statement from Union home minister Amit Shah on the security breach in parliament last week.
The Bills were passed in the Rajya Sabha with empty opposition benches after a debate that lasted close to six hours and saw the absence of the opposition.
Congress MP from Chandigarh Manish Tewari accused Meghwal of being ‘economical with the truth’ and said that implementation of these laws from July 1 will tantamount to throwing a spanner into India’s legal system.
“The operationalisation of these Laws must be put on hold till the time Parliament does not “collectively reapply” itself to these three legislation’s. Certain provisions in these laws represent the broadest assault on Civil liberties since the foundation of the Indian Republic (sic),” Tewari posted on X.
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