Amidst BJP opposition, Bengal passes UP-like Bill to connect vandals' properties

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KOLKATA: The Bengal Assembly passed an expense on Tuesday providing for compensation to the aggrieved owner of a property damaged in any
act of vandalism by attaching and auctioning off properties belonging to the accused
The West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023, is similar to laws in force in BJP-governed Uttar Pradesh, MP, Haryana
and Karnataka
In Chhattisgarh, the provision is limited to compensation for damage caused to medical facilities throughout public unrest.By definition,
the aggrieved individual can be a person or even the state
Anybody looking for compensation requires to move the designated court within 60 days of the damage being caused
This will be followed by an ad-interim accessory order legitimate for 180 days
The property (of the accused) will be connected after a hearing involving both sides
There wont be any violation of natural justice, state financing minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said.The Bill dealt with resistance from
the opposition BJP, which declared that the state was trying to gag political movements
We feel this is a regressive action and will serve to curb democratic political agitation, stated BJP primary whip Manoj Tigga.