Mumbai: The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and civil society groups have announced state-wide protests against the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024. MVA functionaries said protest demonstrations will be held across districts and talukas on Sept 10 and Oct 2. Gatherings and protests will be held at prominent public places, particularly near statues of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Bharat Ratna Dr B R Ambedkar, and Mahatma Gandhi in various districts.MVA functionaries, including NCP (SP) Chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray, Congress functionaries, Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) leader Jayant Patil, CPI’s Dr Bhalchandra Kango, CPM’s Dr Ajit Navre, and CPI(ML)’s Dr Uday Bhat, have opposed the bill, calling it unconstitutional, anti-democratic, and a threat to people’s fundamental rights.Last month, Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan reserved the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill 2024 for President Droupadi Murmu’s consideration. A senior Raj Bhavan official told TOI that the bill was sent to President Murmu for her consideration and assent. The Maharashtra Legislature passed the bill in July during its monsoon session, and it was then sent to the Governor for assent.Soon after the bill was sent to the Governor, a delegation of MVA leaders led by then MLC Ambadas Danve called on Radhakrishnan and urged him not to sign the bill. MVA said the bill was passed without taking the opposition into confidence, and the delegation demanded that the Governor send the bill back and ask for it to be reconsidered by the legislature.Civil society groups, nonprofits, and opposition parties in Maharashtra have said they have planned a coordinated movement against the controversial bill passed by the state legislature. Several of these groups and opposition political parties announced a chain of protests in September and October with a joint agitation across Maharashtra.
