Mumbai: After widespread criticism, the state government late on Monday night withdrew prohibitary orders issued in Kolhapur district.
With an aim to streamline relief work, the Devendra Fadnavis-led state government had imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which empowers an executive magistrate to prohibit an assembly of more than four persons in an area, in flood-hit Kolhapur.
But the move evoked a sharp response from the people as well as Opposition parties, including the Congress and the NCP.
Welcoming the government move, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesman Nawab Malik said, “The government had to backtrack after Opposition parties raised their voice against the move. Otherwise they would have continued to suppress the people.” The state Government should answer people on why they decided to take such a regressive step, he added.
State Congress chief Ashok Chavan had said that imposing Section 144 highlighted the government’s ‘lack of common sense’. “The BJP is worried that people will outrage against the government. Hence, Section 144 has been imposed to hide government’s failure,” he had said.
According to government officials, authorities had started relief work in the region after floodwaters began receding. However, Section 144 was imposed to prevent confusion during relief work. They also cited potential law and order issues for Sec. 144’s imposition.
