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Rajya Sabha MP from the Shiv Sena (UBT) has made a heartfelt appeal to President Droupadi Murmu to expedite the long-pending Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law (Maharashtra Amendment) Act, 2020. The MP highlighted the significance of this legislation, which has been awaiting presidential assent since its passage in the Maharashtra State Assembly in 2021.
NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha MP from the Shiv Sena (UBT) has made a heartfelt appeal to President Droupadi Murmu to expedite the long-pending Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law (Maharashtra Amendment) Act, 2020. The MP highlighted the significance of this legislation, which has been awaiting presidential assent since its passage in the Maharashtra State Assembly in 2021.
Chaturvedi’s appeal comes amidst nationwide protests following the tragic assault and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Karnataka.
As a member of the Joint Select Committee on the Shakti Act, I fully support @priyankac19‘s call to implement this vital law. Maharashtra must act decisively against heinous crimes. Swift justice and stringent punishment are the need of the hour. #ShaktiAct #kolkatahorror pic.twitter.com/giZ9TmMGu6
— Rais Shaikh (@rais_shk) August 19, 2024
The MP took to X (formerly Twitter) on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, stating, “On the auspicious day of Raksha Bandhan, I have written a letter to Honourable President Droupadi Murmu ji, asking her to expedite the assent to the Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law (Maharashtra Amendment) Act, 2020, and the Special Court & Machinery for Implementation of Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law, 2020, which, under the leadership of Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray ji, was cleared in the state assembly and has been awaiting her assent ever since. This would be the most fitting gift to the women of the state and the nation on the occasion of Rakhi.”
In the letter, the MP expressed deep concern over the rising violence against women in the country, drawing parallels with previous high-profile cases such as the 2012 Nirbhaya case, as well as the incidents in Hathras and Kathua. “The country is witnessing large-scale protests after a lady doctor pursuing her 2nd year PG internship at RG Kar hospital was brutally sexually assaulted and killed. The case gives us yet another stark reminder, since the 2012 Nirbhaya case, of how unsafe we continue to feel. Such cases and those that happened in Hathras and Kathua, with numerous others that have led to India having 51 crimes against women each hour, have shaken women’s trust in the country’s legal system, which fails to protect them.”
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The MP underscored the urgent need for stronger legal measures to ensure women’s safety and swift justice. “The pain, fear, and anger of crores of women is justified and re-emphasises the need to prioritise women’s safety, ability, and access to faster justice. As a fellow woman, I am certain that you share their sentiment and agree that the need to walk the talk towards women’s safety is now.”
Highlighting the importance of the Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Laws, the MP reminded the President of the bill’s historic significance. “In this context, I want to draw your attention towards the Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2020, and the Special Court & Machinery for Implementation of Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law, 2020, which, during the government led by Shri Uddhav Thackeray, was passed in both Houses after extensive stakeholder discussion and debate in the Maharashtra State Assembly in 2021. The bill was significant and historic as it prioritised women’s safety and introduced stringent punishment and swift prosecution. However, it has been awaiting your assent since then.”
Expressing concern over the delay in the bill’s enactment, the MP stated, “The delay in granting assent to this Bill has understandably raised concerns among the citizens of Maharashtra, especially considering the increasing cases of violence against women and children. Today, as the country celebrates the festival of Raksha Bandhan—a celebration that symbolizes protection and care—I find it particularly important to emphasize the need for your immediate attention to this matter.”
The MP urged the President to consider the matter with urgency, saying, “I respectfully urge your esteemed office to consider this matter with the urgency it merits, facilitating the Bill’s swift enactment into law. As a woman parliamentarian, I am convinced that such a step would reaffirm our unwavering dedication to advancing women’s safety, not only in Maharashtra but across India, especially at a time when this cause demands our immediate attention and action.”
