On July 1st, India's Modi government enacted new criminal laws. These laws include the "Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)", "Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)", and "Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS)".
Asaduddin Owaisi, President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, stated that these laws will be used against Muslims, Dalits, and other middle-class groups in India. He claims these laws will give the police broader powers to act against vulnerable sections of society.
A Member of Parliament from Hyderabad has termed these laws as one-sided. He points out that the laws do not mention any action against police misconduct. He has described these laws as even more dangerous than the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act).
Since the Modi government came to power, minorities in India have felt insecure. Anti-Muslim rhetoric was also prevalent in recent elections.
These new laws are causing concern among minorities, particularly Muslims, Adivasis, and Dalits.
The implementation of these laws comes amid ongoing debates about the treatment of minorities in India under the current administration.
Critics argue that these laws could potentially be used to target specific communities, while supporters of the government maintain that they are necessary for maintaining law and order.
