Villupuram Member of Parliament Ravikumar has written a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah.
In the letter, “widespread protests are taking place across the country against the three new and hastily enacted criminal laws. These laws were passed without any debate after a mass suspension of MPs from the Lok Sabha. Following this, all sections of the society are demanding the withdrawal of these three illegal laws.
I would like to adduce one more strong reason to justify opposition to these laws.
After the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992, widespread violence broke out across the country. Thousands of innocent people were killed as a result. Most of them are Muslims. To maintain law and order in that environment, a new provision, Section 144A, was inserted by the Union Government in the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
The section empowers District Magistrates to prohibit the carrying of arms or sticks in any procession, as well as engaging in drills or exercises with arms in public places. Similarly, a new section 153A.A was added to the Indian Penal Code (IPC). It introduced punishment for “carrying arms in any procession, organizing or conducting such procession or engaging in mass training with arms. Violation of any public notice or order issued under Section 144A of CrPC, 1973 is punishable with imprisonment for six months and fine up to Rs 2,000.
To avoid confusion about the term “weapons”, an explanation has been given in both sections: It refers to articles designed or modified as weapons for offense or defence, including firearms, sharp-edged weapons, lathis, clubs, sticks.
It is shocking that neither the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023 nor the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 contains either Article 144A or Article 153A.A.
This deliberate omission in the new laws allows communal organizations to carry weapons like swords and tridents in public processions. The RSS allows the carrying of weapons like sticks and dandas in processions.
I would like to bring to your notice that since 2014 when BJP came to power, gang murders have been on the rise. The victims of these killings are mostly Muslims and Scheduled Castes. BJP-ruled state governments did not condemn the killings but allowed communal organizations to celebrate the killers.
Allowing weapons like swords, tridents and clubs to be carried in public encourages criminals in the society. As a result, crime has increased across the country. NCRP’s annual reports are a testimony to that.
Therefore, I kindly request the central government to take strict measures to prevent the violent acts of communal forces. For that, I point out that it is very necessary to add Section 144A of the erstwhile CrPC to BNSS and Section 153A.A of IPC to BNS.”
This is mentioned in the letter.
