TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh opposed the new West Bengal Public Safety Bill, calling it unconstitutional. Despite his concerns and claims of loopholes, the bill was passed with a majority vote, drawing praise from BJP MLAs for its potential to curb crime.
TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh on Monday raised serious concerns over ‘The West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026’, stating that the new legislation stands in “total contradiction to constitutional rights” and that existing laws were already sufficient to tackle crime.
Speaking to reporters, Ghosh said, “Everyone desires the suppression of goondaism, but we already had the IPC and CrPC, and now we have the new codes (BNS/BNSS). The police and investigating agencies already possess all the necessary rules and legal sections. The bill introduced by the Chief Minister stands in total contradiction to constitutional rights, specifically the rights granted to an accused person and a citizen.”
The Bill, aimed at curbing nefarious activities and providing severe punishment for anti-social elements, was passed with 176 votes in favour and 41 against it on Monday. Ghosh alleged that the government used its majority to clear the legislation despite significant “loopholes” rather than a consensus on its legal soundness.
“There are significant loopholes, but since they hold the majority… they simply used their numerical strength to pass the bill,” he added.
Ghosh on state-level Uniform Civil Code
Apart from the Public Safety Bill, Ghosh also addressed the Chief Minister’s announcement regarding a state-level Uniform Civil Code (UCC). He emphasised that the process would be inclusive and overseen by a dedicated committee. “Regarding the UCC, the Chief Minister has made a statement today. The draft bill is to be presented to the Cabinet, and a committee is to be formed. Our leadership is overseeing this entirely. The Chief Minister has said that if anyone has anything to say, they can speak before the committee. Everyone’s views should be considered, and any new rule should ideally be adopted unanimously,” Ghosh stated.
BJP leaders hail passage of bill
Meanwhile, hailing the passage of the bill, BJP MLA Tarunjyoti Tewari called it the “need of the hour” and expressed gratitude towards the Chief Minister for the move. “It was much needed. It is the need of the hour. It was already enacted in many states, and it is happening here now. We thank our Chief Minister for bringing such an act… Hooligans and anti-social elements will be under control now,” Tewari told ANI.
BJP MLA Sajal Ghosh also welcomed the move and stated that the law would pave the way for economic prosperity. He said, “Bengal will become a hub for business; it will be a state of peace and prosperity… If this bill is implemented, entrepreneurs and investors will naturally be drawn here… Those involved in ‘cut money’ and scams will flee their homes.”
Backing the passage of the bill, Ritesh Tiwari added that the legislation would break the “audacity” of mafia figures. Speaking to ANI, he said, “It is excellent. It will help curb hooligans and the goons roaming everywhere, the mafia figures who controlled everything from politics to business. Such people will lose their audacity, while the morale of ordinary, law-abiding citizens will be boosted. This bill will prove crucial in establishing the rule of law in Bengal.”
‘Existing laws ineffective’: Govt’s rationale
The newly passed Bill aims to provide the state administration with enhanced powers to curb anti-social activities and neutralise criminal conspiracies, which the government argues were necessary as previous laws had become “ineffective.”
In the objects and reasons of the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026, the government stated that it felt the need for a new legal framework after observing that existing provisions were insufficient to deal with organised anti-social elements.
The government said that it has been observed that certain sections of society are engaging in anti-social activities, posing a serious threat to the lives and property of the bonafide citizens of the state. The extant provisions of the prevailing Acts and rules were found to be ineffective and inadequate to combat these types of nefarious activities, it added.
The primary objective of the new legislation is to provide the state with more teeth to curb criminal activities and disrupt the planning of such crimes. With an objective to curb these activities, to severely punish the anti-social elements, and to prevent their conspirational designs, it is considered necessary to bring in some provisions in the form of a new Bill, the government said. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)