A BILL meant to discourage the practice of black magic is up against more resistance than its authors had imagined.
The Maharashtra Eradication of Black Magic and Aghori Practices Bill, passed in the Vidhan Sabha in December 2005, is up for discussion in the Vidhan Parishad in March. While the Akhil Bharatiya Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (ABANS), which drafted the Bill, is confident it will go through without too much trouble, a number of organisations are now lobbying against it.
The Bill targets people indulging in black magic or rituals which harm others, physically, mentally or financially. But groups like the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti (HJS), say the Bill is uncalled for.
‘‘Why is a new law needed to deal with these cases, when the Indian Penal Code encompasses everything that the Bill calls a crime?’’ asked Ramesh Shinde, spokesperson, HJS.
‘‘Also, the government claims that crimes related to superstition have increased alarmingly. But using the Right to Information Act, we found out that in the last five years only 17 such crimes have been registered,’’ said Shinde.
Shyam Manav, organiser, ABANS, is unperturbed. ‘‘The Bill only targets those who hurt others using rituals. One can perform rites or miracles as long as nobody suffers because of it,’’ he said.
The Bill says: ‘‘Nothing shall apply to acts involving religious rites and rituals which do not adversely affect any person mentally, physically or financially.’’
What the Bill calls black magic
Assaulting a person, making person drink dirty water, giving chilli smoke, hanging person from roof, plucking hair, touching heated object to body, forcing person to perform sexual acts in the open
Accusing person of bringing misfortune
Display of ‘miracles’ to deceive people and earn money
Human sacrifice
Preventing person from taking medical treatment and instead giving him or her treatment through black magic
Claiming to change sex of foetus
Keeping sexual relations with a woman who is unable to conceive, and assuring her of motherhood
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