Mamata Banerjee Says Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill Quietly Introduces "Harsh And Draconian Anti-citizen Provisions" (image:instagram/mamataofficial)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed her concern that in lieu of withdrawing provisions under the sedition law, the Union home ministry is introducing more severe and arbitrary measures in the proposed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. By substituting Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Evidence Act, Ministry is attempting to quietly introduce “harsh and draconian anti-citizen provisions.”

It was on the last day of Parliament’s Monsoon session, Centre has introduced three bills – the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Bill, 2023; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) Bill, 2023; and Bharatiya Sakshya (BS) Bill, 2023, to replace the three major keystones of Indian criminal justice system – the Indian Penal Code or IPC, the Code of Criminal Procedure or CrPC, and the Indian Evidence Act respectively.

On her official social media page on X, The Bengal chief minister wrote: “Have been reading the drafts prepared by the Union Home Ministry to substitute the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Evidence Act. Stunned to find that there is a serious attempt to quietly introduce very harsh and draconian anti-citizen provisions in these efforts. Earlier there was Sedition Law; now, in the name of withdrawing those provisions, they are introducing more severe and arbitrary measures in the proposed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which can affect citizens more gravely.”

Have been reading the drafts prepared by the Union Home Ministry to substitute the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Evidence Act. Stunned to find that there is a serious attempt to quietly introduce very harsh and draconian anti-citizen provisions in these…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) October 11, 2023

Adding further, Ms. Banerjee said that government should eliminate these legal provisions in form and spirit. She also urged the jurists and activists to study these drafts and assess its democratic contributions in the context of the criminal justice system. Further, she affirmed that her colleagues in the Parliament will raise the issue before Standing Committee. She ended the post by saying that “Laws need to be improved in light of experiences, but colonial authoritarianism should not be allowed to have backdoor entry at Delhi.”