Maharashtra govt to issue ordinance for anti-superstition legislation

Taking cognisance of the massive outpouring of public grief and anger over Narendra Dabholkar's killing, Maharashtra government today decided to promulgate an ordinance for enacting a bill against black magic, blind faith and superstition, for which the activist waged a long battle.

The decision to approach Governor K Sankaranarayanan for promulgating the ordinance was taken at a meeting of the state Cabinet here, Mantralaya sources said.

The ordinance is expected to be issued in a day or two, they said.

The draft legislation is ready and will be converted into the ordinance, they said, adding that the bill would be passed in the next session of state Legislature.

At the meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, senior NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal is understood to have raised the issue that the ordinance be promulgated, ahead of the passage of the bill in the state Legislature.

Welcoming the move, Shyam Manav of the Akhil Bharatiya Andhshrdhha Nirmoolan Samiti said, the government has paid tribute to Dabholkar by deciding to issue the ordinance.

Dabholkar, who was running an anti-superstition movement in Maharashtra and had even drafted a Bill for the purpose in the late 1990s, was shot dead in Pune yesterday.

Dabholkar hailed from Chavan's home district Satara.

The contentious legislation is aimed at banning superstitions, inhuman rituals and black magic that have been used to exploit people in the name of religious beliefs.

The ordinance will be promulgated by the state government and it would also hold talks with representatives of the Warkari sect which has raised some objections to the proposed law.