Dabholkar's son wants passage of Black Magic Bill in Dec

Slain rationalist Narendra Dabholkar's son, Hamid has stressed on the need to pass the Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Bill in the winter session of the Maharashtra Legislature at Nagpur.

Speaking to reporters here yesterday, Hamid said after his father was killed, the state government had issued an ordinance in this regard to ban superstitious practices and black magic.

"Now it needs to be converted into a law.Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had assured to do so, but if he fails (to get the Bill passed), then it will be a moral defeat of the government," he said.

Also, it should seek consensus on the matter ahead of the next session of the State Legislature in December, Hamid said.

The 69-year-old crusader of the movement against blind faith and superstition, was shot dead at Omkareshwar bridge in Pune on August 20.

Soon after, an ordinance was issued and the Bill was approved by the state government following growing public outcry in the wake of Dabholkar's murder.