Samajwadi Party’s Maharashtra President Abu Asim Azmi has strongly criticised the newly passed Maharashtra Public Security Bill, 2024, warning that it could be misused to target dissenters, minorities, and marginalised communities under the guise of curbing extremism.
Speaking to IANS, Azmi said, “This Bill, in the name of fighting Maoism, gives excessive power to the police, and such powers have historically been misused. We have seen what happened with TADA. So many innocent people, including myself, were booked without reason.”
While acknowledging the need to address left-wing extremism, Azmi said the law could be turned into a “political weapon” like past draconian laws. “When Dalits raise their voices or when marginalised communities organise, someone will claim a Maoist attended the event. Innocent people will be arrested and it will take years to prove their innocence,” he warned.
Azmi dismissed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ assurance that the law would not be misused, saying, “How long will Fadnavis remain CM? Power changes. Just look at the Enforcement Directorate—how many people were jailed and later released without any conviction?”
He accused the government of setting a “dangerous precedent” by criminalising protest and dissent. “Wherever people speak up—against injustice, corruption, or discrimination—this law can be used to crush them. Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, students, activists, anyone can be labelled a Maoist.”
Azmi also criticised the state government’s proposed anti-conversion law and the plan to investigate unauthorised churches, calling it discriminatory. “Forced conversions are not widespread. People usually convert voluntarily, inspired by the service and humanity shown by missionaries. In my childhood in Azamgarh, Christian missionaries treated ostracised sanitation workers with dignity and love,” he said.
While supporting action against genuine cases of coercion, he said there is no evidence of any group actively forcing conversions or receiving foreign funds to do so. “The narrative is being twisted to harass minorities. When someone converts, especially from Hinduism, they’re threatened and forced to say it was under pressure. That is harassment.”
Reacting to BJP MLA Nitesh Rane’s demand that the Islamic call to prayer (Azan) be recited in Marathi, Azmi called it “ignorant and inflammatory.”
“Urdu is not a foreign language. It was born here. The FIR of Gandhi’s assassination was written in Urdu. Should we now ask Hindus to stop reciting in Sanskrit?” he asked.
Azmi said such comments were part of a broader attempt to inflame communal tensions. “Why drag religion into language politics? People have the right to pray in their own language. That’s guaranteed by the Constitution. Stop trying to dictate how people practice their faith,” he said.
