New criminal laws affront to democratic rights: Tarigami
Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has criticized the new criminal laws, calling them an affront to democratic rights and has sought their review.
The new criminal laws — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) — which replaced the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively, came into effect across India from July 1. Experts see these laws as an attempt by Modi government to undermine people’s rights.
“These laws were passed in haste, without debate, in a blatantly autocratic and anti-democratic manner, when a large number of opposition MPs were suspended. These are stringent in nature,” Tarigami said in a statement.
He expressed concerns that the new laws would erode the liberties and legal safeguards of citizens by giving the state more sweeping powers.
“The new laws need a thorough review. We demand that the implementation of the new laws be put in abeyance,” he said.