INDI Takes 'Bulldozer Justice' Jibe at Centre As New Criminal Laws Take Effect | Who Said What

New Delhi: With implementation of the the new criminal laws across India on Monday, the opposition mounted a blistering attack on the government, accusing it of passing the legislation forcibly by suspending MPs. 

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam was passed in Parliament last December to replace British-era laws including the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and Indian Evidence Act, respectively. 

The opposition parties claimed that the bills proposing new criminal laws were passed without required debate and discussion on the matter. 

"After the political and moral shock in the elections, Modi ji and the BJP are pretending to respect the Constitution, but the truth is that the three laws of the criminal justice system that are being implemented from today were forcibly passed by suspending 146 MPs," Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said. 

"INDIA will no longer allow this 'Bulldozer Justice' to run on the Parliamentary system," he added.

Kharge referred to the Winter Session of the Parliament, held in December last year, which witnessed passing of bills proposing new criminal laws amid suspension of opposition MPs in both the houses. 

The suspension came after the opposition MPs staged massive protest in both the houses over Parliament security breach. 

New Criminal Laws: Opposition Criticises Centre 

The opposition parties launched a massive criticism of the three new criminal laws with AAP MP Raghav Chadha calling for its review in the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). 

“Right from the beginning, AAP is of the opinion that it should be reviewed. It should be referred to JPC. It should not be implemented in haste. It will have far-reaching consequences,” said Chadha. 

Congress MP Manickam Tagore reaffirmed that the three Bills were passed in the Parliament without any consent with Opposition as more than 150 MPs were suspeded during the time. 

“We are very clear that the three Bills which were passed by the Parliament without Opposition voices when more than 150 MPs were suspended in the previous session, must be relooked because it is going to affect common people in a very big way.” 

He added, "The arrogance of PM Modi and Amit Shah must not put people in trouble. We feel that there should be a debate again and there should be a re-think on the three controversial laws which were brought when Opposition parties were suspended from the Parliament."

Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose also expressed concerns about the new laws, saying they are "vaguely worded" and leave "huge scope for the government to snatch away citizens' lives and liberty".

"The offence of 'sedition' has made a backdoor entry -- dangerous," Ghose tweeted. "Terrorism has been defined for the 1st time and made a part of day to day criminal offences -- VERY dangerous. Intrusion into privacy by making 'deceit' an offence on promises of marriage by a man to a woman."