Maharashtra Cabinet passes anti-black magic ordinance

Mumbai: A day after the death of activist Dr Narendra Dabholkar, the Maharashtra Cabinet adopted the anti-black magic and superstition ordinance on Wednesday.

Protests erupted in the city after Dabholkar was murdered in broad daylight yesterday and they questioned Maharastra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan for not taking enough steps to take up the bill and discuss it.

The bill was drafted by Dabholkar who had been advocating for the cause since the late 1990s. Dabholkar had previously criticised Chavan for not tabling the draft legislation in the recently concluded monsoon session of the state assembly. The bill had gone through several drafts and was amended 29 times. It aimed to abolish and fight against those who spread black magic, who sacrifice innocent animals to appease gods and other aspects of black magic and superstitious beliefs.

Dabholkar had founded the Andhashraddha NIrluman Samiti; anti- superstition movement to change the mindset of the people and had also started to work against widespread superstition.

He was killed yesterday when he was out for his morning walk. Two assailants came on a bike and shot him. A huge manhunt has been launched to trace the killers.

One India News