Winter session to pass anti-superstition Bill : Maharashtra Government

Over three months after the murder of rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar, the state government has decided to pass the Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Bill during the upcoming winter session of state legislature scheduled to commence in Nagpur on December 9.

Dr Dabholkar, who was gunned down by unidentified assailants in Pune, had been fighting for passage of the Bill. A political observer said that the state government had failed to pass the Bill for six years despite strong demands by Dr Dabholkar. Soon after his murder, the state passed an ‘ordinance’.

Cooperative and parliamentary affairs minister Harshvardhan Patil said the government is committed to pass the Bill. “We will table the Bill in both houses during the winter session,” said Patil, adding that it will be passed with a simple majority.

With Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party not being in favour of the Bill, there is apprehension of pandemonium from the Opposition benches when this bill is tabled.