Amit Shah Urges Opposition to Avoid Politicizing New Criminal Laws Amidst Protests

In the midst of protests against the government's decision to adopt the new criminal legislation without consulting the opposition and after suspending the opposition's members of parliament, Union Home Minister Amit Shah made an appeal to them on Monday not to go political over them.

Shah responded to the charge of opposition by saying that the administration was receptive to helpful recommendations and that, if necessary, amendments may be made to the legislation. He stated that the focus of the new laws was on justice instead of punishment.

"I'm willing to meet anyone who is interested. We'll get together and go over. At a press conference, he responded to inquiries regarding the Opposition protests by saying, "But please, do not get involved in politics."

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) are three new criminal laws that have been criticized for being oppressive and harsh. However, Shah defended the laws, saying they were contemporary, protected victim rights, and held police accountable for improving the criminal justice system in India.

"The majority of the recommendations made by the Opposition members on the panel were approved, with the exception of those with a political color," he stated, adding that "these laws were passed after debates in both Houses and were examined by a parliamentary standing committee."

"After the political and moral shock in the elections, Modiji and the BJP are pretending to respect the Constitution, but the truth is that the three laws of the criminal justice system which are being implemented from today were passed forcibly after suspension of 146 MPs," stated Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in a post on X.

"India won't allow this 'bulldozer justice' to prevail in the parliamentary system," he continued.

The Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act from the British era have been superseded, respectively, by the BNS, BNSS, and the BSA.

According to Shah, India would suddenly have the world's most advanced criminal justice system. "With provisions like Zero FIR, online police complaint registration, electronic summons via SMS, and mandatory crime scene videography for all heinous crimes, the new laws have brought in a modern justice system," he stated.

He stated that at 12.10 a.m. on Monday, the first case under the new legislation was filed about a motorcycle theft in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. He continued by saying that a complaint brought by the police against a street vendor for allegedly obstructing traffic in Kamla Market in central Delhi by selling tobacco and water from a cart had been dropped.

He indicated that in the event of a small offense, community service would be required under the new laws.