Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray issued a stern warning to the Maharashtra government on Monday, stating that if the proposed Public Security Bill is tabled and passed in the Assembly, his party will take to the streets in protest. Thackeray also accused the government of insulting farmers by labeling them as Naxalites during past agitations.
Speaking at a rally in support of an ongoing protest against the bill at Azad Maidan, Thackeray said, “In 2017-18, this government called lakhs of farmers marching from North Maharashtra to Mumbai Naxalites. That was a disgraceful act by the BJP. Now they are introducing the Public Security Bill, which appears to be aimed at jailing political opponents rather than addressing real threats.”
The controversial Public Security Bill, drafted by the Maharashtra government, is intended to curb the spread of left-wing extremism and prevent youth from being influenced by Naxalite ideology. The draft has received over 13,000 suggestions from the public, and a final meeting of the bill committee was held last week at Vidhan Bhavan. The bill is now expected to be presented during the ongoing Assembly session.
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who chairs the committee behind the bill, expressed confidence that the legislation would be a powerful tool against what he termed "anti-national and unconstitutional Naxalite ideas."
However, Thackeray strongly criticized the government’s motives. “Don’t use this bill as a tool to label every opponent of the government as a Naxalite. First, answer where the actual terrorists who attacked Pahalgam have disappeared. It now seems like anyone who joins the BJP becomes a saint, and those who oppose it are branded as traitors,” he said.
He added, “Are these terrorists hiding underground, flying in the sky, or have they all joined the BJP? Because once someone joins the BJP, all their crimes are forgiven. But if someone dares to speak against them, no matter how honest they are, they are called Naxalites.”
Thackeray concluded with a clear warning: “Our MLAs and MLCs will oppose this bill inside the Assembly. But if this government pushes it through using its majority, then we will take this fight to the streets. This arrogance of power will not be tolerated.”
