Special Public Security Bill | ‘What you did to stop the bill’: Congress high command asks Maharashtra unit
'What you did to stop the bill': Congress high command asks state unit
"The All-India Congress Committee had time and again discussed the need to oppose (the bill), and the issue was discussed at the highest level," said a letter sent by Maharashtra Congress chief Harshavardhan Sapkal. 
The Congress central leadership has sought a reply from the Maharashtra Legislative Party as to how it allowed the passing of the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill without opposition. The Congress party came under criticism after it neither protested, nor submitted a dissenting note in the Legislative Assembly against the bill, despite its leadership voicing opposition to it.
“The All-India Congress Committee had time and again discussed the need to oppose (the bill), and the issue was discussed at the highest level. A clear message was conveyed in this regard to the Maharashtra Pradesh Committee,” said a letter sent by Maharashtra Congress chief Harshavardhan Sapkal.
Two days ago, Sapkal, on the instructions of Maharashtra Congress in-charge Ramesh Chennithala, wrote to Congress Legislative Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar, group leader in the Legislative Council Satej Patil, and party chief whip Amin Patel.
“A detailed explanation be submitted (to the AICC) on the events (when the bill was passed),” it said, adding that an explanation of the party’s stand taken within the legislature and the reasons behind it should be submitted at the earliest.
Sources within the Congress told The Indian Express that the high command has taken the incident of the peaceful passage of the bill seriously and hence a detailed report is being sought.
According to sources, the party high command was unhappy after the bill had a smooth passage and nobody except one MLA from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) registered opposition to it. Faced with backlash, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) walked out of the Legislative Council the next day, registering protest.
The bill was sent to the Joint Scrutiny Committee comprising 25 members from the Legislative Assembly and Council. As per the rules, the members of the committee cannot participate in the discussion unless they submit a dissent note. Vijay Wadettiwar, Nana Patole and Satej Patil were members of the committee from the Congress.
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