The state legislature passed a controversial legislation titled Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill on Friday and thereby understandably has instilled fear in the minds of democratic forces.

In the statement of objects and reasons, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the bill was aimed at curbing the "menace of naxalism" which was not limited to remote forests but is also making itself increasingly felt in urban areas through front organisations. He noted that the states of Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have already passed similar legislations as if that was enough to justify a similar law in Maharashtra.

But was new legislation really necessary to tackle the "menace of naxalism"? The government has the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) apart from the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and other laws at its disposal. Despite these plethora of laws the government has been unable to tackle naxalism primarily because it has viewed naxalism merely as a law and order........

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