Siliguri: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday alleged the previous Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government did not notify the new criminal laws passed by Parliament, alleging that it wanted to protect the “syndicate, cut-money and extortion regime”.
He asserted the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), implemented by the Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP government, was a “decisive” step towards “replacing the environment of fear (bhoy) with that of trust (bharosa)”.
The BNS, BNSS and the BSA, which came into effect in the country on July 1, 2024, replaced the British-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively.
Addressing a gathering in Siliguri where Shah inaugurated an exhibition on the three criminal laws, he said, “While the entire country had begun implementing the new criminal laws, Banerjee never notified them. She knew that the laws would sound the death knell for her syndicate, cut-money and extortion regime.”
The Union home minister said Suvendu Adhikari signed the file for notifying the new laws as one of his first moves after taking charge as chief minister, enabling replacement of the British-era laws in the state.
“You will now see how the three new criminal laws will protect citizens and safeguard property. These laws will ensure that justice can be delivered even up to the Supreme Court within three years. The Bengal Police will do what is required,” Shah said.
He insisted the new criminal laws will fast-track the justice delivery mechanism and allow zero-FIRs to be lodged at any police station.
Asserting that the BJP government has brought in the rule of law in the state, Shah claimed the regime change in Bengal and the introduction of various new rules have brought about positive changes in people’s everyday lives.
“Earlier, all you could hear was the sound of bombs,” he said as he took a swipe at previous administrations, alleging the “cadre raj” during the Left Front’s rule was replaced by “goonda raj” under the Trinamool Congress.
“The state is now witnessing the rule of law,” he said.
Reiterating his resolve to curb infiltration from across the international border, Shah said, “I repeat my firm stand to unearth every single infiltrator in this state, throw them out, using the detect-delete-deport mechanism.”
The Union home minister assured people that while refugees had nothing to worry about the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), infiltrators would be identified and deported.
“The work that had been blocked by the Mamata Banerjee government would now be carried out,” he said. “She tried to stop the implementation of CAA in Bengal, even made fun of it. But now people have removed her and her government from power.”
The exhibition, titled ‘Five Pillars: Transformed Justice System’, will be held till August 26 to familiarise people with the new criminal justice framework, officials said.
