- larger design to use this legislation to settle scores with political adversaries and ideological dissenters.
- tendency to defame and gag all those who keep our democracy from turning into an elected autocracy
- “special laws” that bypass the procedural safeguards under the law of the land; misuse is the principal use of such laws.
Shri Fadnavis should come up with specific charges and prima facie evidence thereof , release the list of such "Maoist frontal organisations" in the BJA and name the BJA participants in the foreign meetings that he referred to.
Text of Press Release
Bharat Jodo Abhiyaan
Press Release: 20th December 2024
New Delhi
Bharat Jodo Abhiyaan’s Statement in response to Shri Devender Fadnavis, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
We, the collective that is the Bharat Jodo Abhiyaan, are a citizens’ initiative to protect and promote our Constitutional Values and Democratic Institutions. We are deeply disturbed that one of the first acts of the newly elected government of Maharashtra is introducing a Bill titled, `the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act 2024,’ that flies in the face of constitutional values and is an attempt to subvert democratic institutions.
We are deeply shocked at the statement of Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, in the Maharashtra state legislature on 18th Dec 2024 that hints at a larger design to use this legislation to settle scores with political adversaries and ideological dissenters. It is sad to see that the new government seems to be prioritising witch-hunting over addressing the many serious and pressing issues concerning the lives and livelihood of the people of Maharashtra.
We, the Bharat Jodo Abhiyaan, join other constitution-loving organisations and citizens in decrying this tendency to defame and gag all those who keep our democracy from turning into an elected autocracy. The salacious labelling of all opposition to the ruling Party as `urban naxals’ and ‘anti-national’ and enacting draconian laws to muzzle them is violative of Article 19 of the Constitution.
We are alarmed at the tendency to come up with “special laws” that bypass the procedural safeguards under the law of the land; misuse is the principal use of such laws. We would like to remind the newly elected government in Maharashtra that they have come to power because of the Constitution, and they must behave in accordance with its spirit which they have sworn to. “We the people” are not just the first three words of the Constitution but also its keepers in spirit.
In his response to the Hon’ble Governor’s address in the assembly, Shri Devendra Fadnavis mentioned the Bharat Jodo Abhiyaan several times and labelled our activities as disruptive and not in the interest of the nation. This is not the first time he has targeted Bharat Jodo Abhiyaan. He did so during the election campaign as well, holding the Abhiyaan responsible for his party’s defeat during the Lok Sabha election and hinting at retribution.
Bharat Jodo Abhiyaan would like to reiterate what it said in its statement issued on 8th November 2024: instead of using his official position to spread false allegations against those opposed to his ideology and Party, Shri Fadnavis should have the courage to come up with specific charges and prima facie evidence thereof against the office bearers and members of the Bharat Jodo Abhiyaan. Since he has alleged that the Bharat Jodo Abhiyaan comprises “frontal organisations” of maoists insurrectionists, we would request him to release the list of such organisations in the BJA and name the BJA participants in the foreign meetings that he referred to.
We at Bharat Jodo Abhiyaan are proud of the activists and organisations that comprise BJA Maharashtra, each with an outstanding record of public service, who have led a spectacular peoples’ campaign to protect the constitution. We shall not be cowed down nor muzzled and will continue our legitimate, non-violent, peaceful, democratic activities to protect and promote our Constitutional Values and Democratic Institutions.