Glad that state has made a beginning: Mukta Dabholkar

Welcoming the “long overdue” step of the state, family of late anti-superstition crusader Dr Narendra Dabholkar and all those opposing black magic practices expressed happiness on the Bill’s passing in the assembly on Friday.

They all said the government must now pass the ‘Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifices and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Bill’ in the Upper House and make sure there is a mechanism to curb such incidents.

Dabholkar’s daughter and advocate Mukta Dabholkar said, “Though a diluted one, we are happy that at least there’s been a beginning in this direction. This will boost the morale of the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (ANIS)... We appeal that this be implemented across other states too as many innocents fall prey to such practices.”

“There was a lot of misconception built around the Bill. Those who didn’t want it were misguiding others, saying it would stop their prayers and yatras,” she added.

ANIS president ND Patil said the government has barely managed to save its “dignity” by passing this Bill.

Doctors said it was about time that black magic practices were stopped. “Once people are made to go through black magic on the pretext that there’s a ghost in them, it only worsens their mental state. Such practices were also taking people away from science,” said Dr Harish Shetty, psychiatrist.

“However, the government should not interfere in people’s traditions, like lighting lamps and fasting,” he added.

ANIS’s Avinash Patil said, “The fact that 15 cases have been lodged after the Bill was passed shows the kind of practices prevalent in the state.”