New Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Kapil Sibal on Saturday alleged that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023 which seeks to replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC), allows the use of "draconian police powers for political ends".
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal further said that the government's agenda behind bringing such laws is to "silence opponents".
"Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (2023) (BNS)...Allows for using draconian police powers for political ends BNS...Allows for police custody from 15 upto 60 or 90 days...New offences for prosecuting persons who threaten the security of state (redefined)...Agenda: To silence opponents," Kapil Sibal said in a tweet.
"Wherever the BJP is in power, the political opponents will be attacked and police force is by and large working under the directions of the political persons in power...In this context you give police or enforcement agencies custody for 60-90 days, then it is a recipe for disaster," Sibal said.
He further said that the way sedition law changed and put into place, provisions relating to national security without defining under what circumstances a person can be prosecuted for national security.
"On one hand, they are giving more power to police and on the other hand silencing people...this is unacceptable...," Sibal said.
Earlier on Friday, Amit Shah introduced The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023 and Bharatiya Sakhshya Bill, 2023, aimed at giving justice and protecting the rights given to Indian citizens by Constitution.
The bills will abolish the Indian Penal Code, 1860; Criminal Procedure Code, (1898), 1973; and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 made by the British.
The Indian Penal Code, 1860 will be replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023; the Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 will be replaced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 will be replaced by the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023. (with Agency inputs)
