Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 12: Members of 20 human rights groups Thursday converged at Nehru Yuva Prathisthan at AG Square to demand the repeal of the proposed ‘draconian’ Orissa Police Bill 2015.
“The bill will militarise the police and will confer tremendous powers in their hands without accountability,” said Pradipta Nayak, an activist. The members accused the government of trying to push the bill through in a hurry to avoid public attention.
Biswapriya Kanungo, another activist, expressed concern that people’s right to protest would be muzzled under the bill. “If the bill gets through, people won’t be able to organise a mass protest even if it’s peaceful,” Kanungo said, adding the bill will be a weapon in the hands of corporate companies looking to exploit the state’s resources.
The activists’ main contention was over the selection of members of the State Security Commission in the new bill, which has no provision of having an opposition leader as a member in the collegium that appoints members to the Commission. “The independence of the Commission’s members would be undermined if they are appointed by the government,” said another activist Chandranath Dani.
Activist Tapan Padhi said if the bill is passed, the DGP will become the police complaint authority instead of the Lokpal. “How can you complain against a policeman to another policeman?” Padhi asked.
The activists said the government should elicit opinions from denizens of the state and redraft the bill, adding they will stage a protest against the bill March 17 before Raj Bhawan.