Mumbai: After vehement opposition from the opposition parties, that is Shiva Sena and BJP and from saints, the Warkari sect, HJS, Sanatan Sanstha and other Hindu organisations all over the state, the government was compelled to forward the controversial Maharashtra Black Magic and Superstitions Regulation of 2005 also known as the Blind Faith Bill to the Joint Select Committee for analysis.
There was a high possibility of passing of this bill at the budget session of the State Assembly but despite the majority supporting the bill it could not be approved because of widespread public opposition to it. This bill was presented only on the final day of the session, that is 33 days later, when the session actually started on 14th March.
Today the Social Justice Minister, Shri. Chandrakant Handore proposed that this bill be analysed by a 27 member joint committee from both the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly over a three month period and the resolution was passed by both houses, unanimously.
Opposition at the meeting
On 13th April 2007, at the meeting of the working advisory committee of the Legislative Council an attempt was made by the government to approve the bill. However the Shiva Sena leaders Shri. Divakar Raote and Shri. Madhukar Sarpotdar and Shri. Pandurang Fundkar opposed the move. They emphasised on the several flaws and loopholes in the bill and stated that when the bill was opposed all over the state they would not allow it to become an act.
They rebelled so that the Government would send this to the Joint Committee for analysis. Eventually the Government withdrew this bill and accepted their proposition according to news received through reliable sources.
Minister Shri. Handore met Shri. Divakar Raote and other members of the Legislative Council several times during the session to convince them to accept the bill but they were firm on their stand. The Government was under pressure because members of the ruling Congress and National Congress parties also opposed the bill.
Members of the Joint Select Committee for analysis
27 members from both the houses have been chosen as members of the committee.
Members of the Legislative Assembly: Shri. Ramdas Kadam, Shri. Subhash Desai, Shri. Dattaji Nalavde, Shri. Ajit Ghorpade, Shri. Nana Patole, Shri. Girish Mahajan, Shri. Janardan Chandurkar, Shri. Ganpatrao Deshmukh, Shri. Narsayya Adam, Shri. Vamanrao Chatap, Shri. Nitin Raut, Shri. Bansode and Mrs. Shobha Phadnavis.
Members of the Legislative Council: Shri. Pandurang Fundkar , Shri. Madhukar Sarpotdar, Shri. Divakar Raote, Shri. Madhukar Chauhan, Shri. Kapil Patil, Shri. M.A. Ajit, Shri. B.T. Deshmukh , Shri. Gurunath Kulkarni, Shri. Ulhas Pavar and Mrs Usha Darade.
Minister Shri. Chandrakant Handore and Minister of State Shri. Dharmarao Atram are respectively the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee.
The above committee will make changes in the Blind Faith Bill within 3 months and present its report at the monsoon session of the Legislative council. After approval there it will be sent to the Legislative assembly and only when passed in the assembly will it become an act, also there are high chances of delay in this process.
The ‘Blind Faith Bill’ should be scrapped: HJS
Today the Maharashtra Government was compelled to take the decision to send the unconstitutional Blind Faith Bill for detailed discussion to the Joint select Committee, without approving it. This goes to show how a group of atheists posing as the ‘Government’ drafted the bill projecting that they were assigned the task. Today the true nature of the bill was revealed. Though earlier on several occasions the ulterior motives of these atheists behind this bill has been revealed, the government chose to ignore it. This time however the government must probe into this.
We are indebted to all MLC’s from the opposition and all Hindu protagonists who have supported us in this struggle by exposing flaws such as absence of definitions of words used in the bill, mention of clauses which can curb religious practices, etc., which compelled the government to take this decision. As this bill will not further strengthen the existing laws in this regard and as chances of addition of clauses later and possibility of its misuse is high, the HJS had pleaded that this bill be scrapped and has pledged to fight till this goal is achieved. To protest against this bill a public meeting has been organised by the HJS on 20th April 2007 at Nare Park, Parel at 6.30 p.m. The HJS earnestly requests members of all Hindu sects and organisations to attend this meeting in large numbers as an expression of their solidarity.
Source: ‘Daily Sanatan Prabhat’
Related HJS campaign
> Anti faith Bill
