Prakash Ambedkar to move court against public security Bill

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) founder and president Prakash Ambedkar will move court against the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill (MSPS), citing that the Bill is “draconian” and will “destroy the Phule-Shahu-Ambedkar spirit” and ideology of Maharashtra.

The former MP called the Bill unconstitutional, vaguely defined, and inherently prone to misuse.

Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday passed the MSPS Bill intending to prevent the “unlawful activities of left-wing extremist organisations. However, Opposition parties opposed it citing ambiguity.

Mr. Ambedkar criticised the Opposition for letting the Bill pass in the Assembly without any contention.

In April, Mr. Ambedkar had written a nine-page letter to Chandrashekhar Bawankhule, chairperson, Joint Select Committee on MSPS Bill, and called for its immediate withdrawal. The letter mentioned that under the guise of addressing “Naxalism”, it will be used to silence those who voice opposition to State policies or raise valid concerns about potential wrongdoings.

“The Bill, if enacted into a law, will legitimise the criminalisation of citizens, organisations, policy and political actors, who dissent, protest, revolt and express their opposition against the policies of the government,” he posted on X.