The Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Bill, 2013 (also known as Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Bill or Anti-Jaadu Tona Bill or Jaadu Tona Andhshradha Virodhi Bill 2013) was pending since the past 15 years and was embroiled in the radically thinking organizations, bitter opposition by political parties and in the clutches of dozens of amendments.
Nagpur News: The Maharashtra Government finally succeeded in passing of Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Bill, 2013 (also known as Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Bill or Anti-Jaadu Tona Bill or Jaadu Tona Andhshradha Virodhi Bill 2013) in the Vidhan Sabha by a majority.
The historic Bill was pending since the past 15 years and was embroiled in the radically thinking organizations, bitter opposition by political parties and in the clutches of dozens of amendments.
However, the brutal assassination of “Andhashradhha Nirmulan Samit (Superstitions Eradication Committee) President Dr Narendra Dabholkar in Pune in the progressives State like Maharashtra, forced the Government put its foot down. The Government had issued an Ordinance on Anti-Black Magic and Superstitions just four days after the assassination of Dr Dabholkar.
The Minister for Social Justice Shivajirao Moghe tabled the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Bill, 2013 in the Vidhan Sabha (Assembly) on Wednesday in order to turn the Ordinance into the law. A marathon discussion was held on the Bill which lasted for two days. The BJP-Shiv Sena MLAs demanded the omission of clauses that would have put hurdles in the religious beliefs and the Government, too, subsequently made amendments to the Bill which paved the way for passing of the Historic Bill on Friday the 13th. Now, the Bill will be tabled in the Vidhan Parishad (Council) on Monday.
The Bill proposed that those indulging in black magic or preying on peoples’ superstitions be jailed for up to seven years. The Bill also sought to ban a range of practices including black magic, animal sacrifice and magical remedies to cure ailments.
Dr Dabholkar had drafted the Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Bill over a decade ago, but it repeatedly failed to get through the State Legislature. Dabholkar’s family was sharply critical of the delay.
“The Bill was kept pending for years. We do not know if his life would have been saved if the government had acted earlier, but it would have sent out a message that the government stands by rationalist thought,” said his daughter Mukta Dabholkar.
Narendra Dabholkar was shot dead by two men on a motorcycle while he was out for a morning walk near Omkareshwar Temple in Pune.
