"Laws must be stalled, brought to Lok Sabha for detailed discussion": Congress' Vikaramidtya Singh on three new criminal laws

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 1 : After the introduction of the three new criminal laws, Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh said that the opposition was not taken into confidence and that the bill was passed when nearly 150 MPs from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were suspended due to different reasons.
Speaking to ANI on Monday, Vikramaditya Singh said, "Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi has said in very clear words that the opposition has not been taken into confidence in this. When these laws were passed in Parliament last year, nearly 150 MPs from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were suspended due to different reasons."
He urged the Centre to stall the law and to take it up for a detailed discussion. The Opposition leaders claim that they were pushed through Parliament without adequate discussion and debate.
"This bill was passed without a voice vote. Deliberations should be carried out on these laws again. I do not want to comment on its merits but whatever the opposition LoP has taken up, all those things must be considered by the centre. The laws must be stalled and brought to the Lok Sabha for a detailed discussion," he added.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised the opposition parties for opposing the new criminal laws and said that there are several occasions to do politics but the new acts should be supported.
The new criminal laws, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Sanhita, came into effect on July 1 at midnight.
On the Opposition's criticism that no discussions were held before implementation, Shah said, "For these new laws, a few friends in the Opposition are saying different things before the media. I would like to tell you all that 9.29 hours of discussions were held in Lok Sabha and 34 members participated in them. In Rajya Sabha, over 6 hours of discussions were held. 40 members participated in the discussions."
"It is also being falsely said that the bill was brought after the members were sent out (suspended). Bill was already listed before the Business Advisory Committee. I firmly believe that the opposition had been boycotting the House beforehand. Perhaps they didn't want to participate in discussions. I want to tell the opposition that there are several occasions to do politics but this should be supported," he said.
Shah said that discussions on these laws were held for over four years. "It would be one of the laws on which such a long discussion was held before it was taken into Parliament," he added."Prison, forensic, and prison personnel are also trained. For the training of 22.50 lakh police personnel, over 12,000 trainers are ready," Shah said.
Shah further said that around 6.20 lakh police personnel in over 17,000 police stations have been trained for the new laws.
Shah said that by August 15, the new criminal laws will be implemented in all Union territories.
The three new laws received Parliament's nod on December 21, 2023. President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent on December 25, 2023, and was published in the official gazette on the same day.
The three new laws received Parliament's nod on December 21, 2023. President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent on December 25, 2023, and was published in the official gazette on the same day.
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita will have 358 sections (instead of 511 sections in the IPC). A total of 20 new crimes have been added to the bill, and the imprisonment sentence has been increased for 33 of them. The amount of the fine has been increased in 83 crimes and mandatory minimum punishment has been introduced in 23 crimes. The penalty of community service has been introduced for six crimes and 19 sections have been repealed or removed from the bill.
Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita will have 531 sections (in place of 484 sections of CrPC). A total of 177 provisions have been changed in the bill, and nine new sections as well as 39 new sub-sections have been added to it. The draft act has added 44 new provisions and clarifications. Timelines have been added to 35 sections and audio-video provision has been added at 35 places. A total of 14 sections have been repealed and removed in the Sanhita.
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam will have 170 provisions (instead of the original 167 provisions, and a total of 24 provisions have been changed. Two new provisions and six sub-provisions have been added and six provisions have been repealed or deleted in the Adhiniyam.