New Delhi, July 1 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday rejected the Opposition’s claim that the three new criminal laws were passed in haste and said it was unfortunate that the Opposition was giving a political colour to the issue despite the fact that elaborate discussions were held on the new legal provisions.
Addressing a press conference here, Shah hailed the three Criminal Laws and said that in Independent India such a diligent exercise to pass a Bill has never been carried out and I want to tell this “on record”.
He said, “In Lok Sabha more than nine hours were given for discussion and 34 members participated in this. While in Rajya Sabha, the discussion was of more than six hours and 40 Members took part”.
Rejecting the Opposition claim that the Bill was brought after suspending their members, Shah said, “A false news was also being spread that the Bill was brought after suspending the Opposition members of both Houses. The Bill was already there in the Business Advisory Committee and from 14 December, the Opposition had decided to boycott Parliament. In Both the Houses, the Opposition through their deeds forced the Chair to take action against them”.
Stating that the Bill was brought after suggestions from various stake holders, the Home Minister said, “In 2020, I had personally written letters to all MPs and sought suggestions, I had also written to all the Chief Ministers, Justices of the Supreme Court, Chief Justices of all High Courts. Moreover, the Home Secretary had also written letters to all IPS officers, collectors and sought suggestions and after that I personally went through all of them several times and then this Bill was drafted.”
He said before Parliament passed the Bill, it was sent to the Home Ministry Committee. There was a detailed discussion on the Bill and all Members of political parties participated in it and gave their suggestions. Except for some political suggestions, all suggestions were incorporated with 93 changes and the Bill was passed by the Cabinet and then tabled in Parliament, he said.
Urging the Opposition to not politicise the issue, the Home Minister said, “There are several issues for politics, and the Government is ready to respond to them but these laws are for 140 crore people of the country and it is an exercise to deliver law and respect to the people as per Constitution”.
The three new Criminal Laws — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 came into effect on Monday.
