Sanjay Raut slams Maharashtras Public Safety Bill as software to suppress dissent

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday (July 20, 2025) launched a blistering assault on the Devendra Fadnavis authorities over the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024, claiming it poses a direct menace to civil liberties and democratic expression within the State. 

Writing in his weekly Rokhthok column within the celebration mouthpiece Saamana, Mr. Raut described the laws as a software crafted not for public security, however to serve political and company pursuits. “This is just not a Jan Suraksha Bill, it’s a BJP Suraksha Bill,” he wrote, alleging the federal government rushed the invoice by the legislature with out enough debate. 

According to Mr. Raut, the Bill—handed in the course of the lately concluded monsoon session of the Assembly—grants sweeping powers to the police and authorities to arrest people for acts deemed to disturb “public order,” a phrase he mentioned is intentionally obscure and vulnerable to misuse. He warned that NGOs, civil society teams, tribal activists, and people opposing massive company tasks like Gautam Adani’s mining operations unfold from Chandrapur to Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand forests might now be simply focused beneath the brand new legislation. 

The Maharashtra Assembly on July 10, 2025, handed the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024, aimed toward stopping “illegal actions of Left Wing Extremist organisations or comparable teams”. The Bill will now be tabled within the Legislative Council. 

“I guarantee the House that we are going to not enable the misuse of this legislation. I request the House to cross this Bill unanimously,” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who tabled the Bill. 

Despite opposition from the Communist Party of India (CPI) and objections by different events, Speaker Rahul Narvekar declared that the Bill, put to vote by a voice vote, was accredited by a majority. 

With the passage of the Bill in each Houses, Maharashtra will grow to be the fifth State after Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha to enact a public safety legislation. The legislation will impose punishments starting from two to seven years in jail for members of illegal organisations. Offences beneath the Act will probably be cognisable and non-bailable in nature, and grant the federal government the authority to grab and forfeit funds belonging to such teams.  

Mr. Raut additional criticised the federal government’s intent behind the invoice, saying it’s aimed toward silencing protests in areas reminiscent of Dharavi, the place residents have been resisting redevelopment and displacement. “The Dharavi Rehabilitation Project is the world’s greatest land rip-off. The authentic residents will probably be uprooted from their rightful place and the leaders who’re combating for his or her rights will probably be labelled as ‘Urban Naxalites’ and imprisoned beneath the act. If folks can’t protest peacefully towards injustice, what stays of democracy?” the column mentioned.   

Highlighting the double requirements of the ruling coalition, Raut questioned why the federal government was turning a blind eye to hate speeches and violent acts by right-wing parts, whereas searching for to criminalise dissent from marginalised communities and activists. He additionally accused the federal government of utilizing the invoice as a pretext to consolidate energy earlier than the upcoming civic elections, significantly in Mumbai. “The legislation is getting used to intimidate those that dare communicate towards the regime or its enterprise allies,” he claimed. 

“Such legal guidelines assault the soul of democracy. If this invoice turns into legislation, it will likely be a darkish day for Maharashtra,” he added.