Union Home Minister Counters Opposition's Criticism, Emphasizes Comprehensive Discussions and Reforms

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday rejected opposition criticism that the new criminal laws were a "cut, copy, paste" job and were hastily implemented without sufficient debate. Shah asserted that the new laws underwent extensive consultation and discussion, with more thorough debates than any law since independence.

Addressing misinformation about police custody rules, Shah clarified that the police can detain an arrested individual for no more than 15 days during a 60-day investigation period. "We have been consulting on the new laws for four years. I have attended 118 consultative meetings. In Parliament, there was a 9.29-hour debate in Lok Sabha and a 6.7-hour debate in Rajya Sabha, with 34 members in Lok Sabha and 26 in Rajya Sabha participating," Shah stated during a media briefing. This announcement coincided with the implementation of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), with the first case registered in Gwalior.

The BNS replaces the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC), while the BNSS and BSA replace the Criminal Procedure Code and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively.

Opposition leaders have criticized the government for passing the new laws without proper discussion. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party of disrespecting the Constitution by forcibly passing the laws. Former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram labeled the new laws as largely a "cut, copy, and paste job," arguing that minor amendments to existing laws would have sufficed. Congress MP Manish Tewari called for a re-examination of the laws, warning they could lead to a police state.

Shah maintained that most suggestions for reform were incorporated, except for four of a political nature. He emphasized that the new laws focus on justice rather than punitive measures, marking a shift from British-era laws. "The criminal justice system of India is now completely indigenous and will function on Indian ethos," he said, noting the addition of six central forensic science laboratories to enhance the use of technology in investigations.