Maharashtra calls all party meet on proposed internal security law

Reacting to govt's stand, NCP said govt should have taken all parties into confidence before uploading the draft for public

Following severe battering from ally Shiv Sena and the Opposition over its proposed internal security law, the BJP-led Maharashtra government has now decided to place the draft of the Act before an all party committee for discussion.

"On the instructions of the Chief Minister, it has been decided to place the draft of proposed Maharashtra Protection of Internal Security Act before an All Party Committee for discussions," Additional Chief Secretary, K P Bakshi said in a statement issued here.

"Thereafter, the proposed draft will be discussed in the Cabinet and after discussions, public suggestions and objections will be invited. The finally-accepted draft will be sent to the Legislature after approval of the cabinet," he said.

Reacting to government's stand, opposition NCP said that the government should have taken all parties into confidence before uploading the draft for public.

"The CM knew very well that we would not allow him to go ahead with his plans of imposing dictatorial rule in Maharashtra. Thus, he did not consult the opposition. Now, the Shiv Sena's slap to the BJP has shamed it and the CM is now trying to woo the opposition to bulldoze his way through. This can never happen," NCP MLC Kiran Pawaskar said.

Congress secretary Al-Nasser Zakaria said the BJP should be ashamed of going against the ideals of party stalwarts like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani, who always criticised the Congress for Emergency.

"Will these leaders, who have been shoved into the 'margdarshak mandal' agree to the BJP's stand under Modi ji now? We want the BJP stalwarts to come out in open and oppose this Act or else concede that the party's ideals have been demolished to suit their agenda," Zakaria said.