Opposition Uproar as Government Pushes New Criminal Laws Amid Suspensions
• Opposition MPs suspended, reducing opposition to 1/3 in Lok Sabha as government takes up new criminal law bills • Opposition alleges government wants to "bulldoze" bills without debate and turn India into a "police state" • Government claims new laws are people-centric and aim to provide justice rather than punishment • Opposition parties say many sections of bills are "copy-paste" of old colonial laws and should be taken up after 2024 elections • Trinamool Congress chief asked Home Minister to not rush bills and build consensus on significant legislation