The bill has been passed in both the Houses of the state legislature during the Monsoon Session

Pawar conceded that the bill was not opposed effectively when it was first introduced in the legislative assembly last month by the BJP-led government, but added that the necessary course correction was done in the legislative council

The former Union Minister also alleged that "regressive forces" were infiltrating the judiciary

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said on this occasion that the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill has no reference to sedition. Had there been such a reference, his party would have supported it, he said

While tabling the Bill in the legislature in July, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis explained the necessity of the proposed law and stated that Maharashtra has 64 radical organisations, the highest in the country, and none of them have been banned in the absence of effective rules

The CM had also then clarified that the idea behind the bill was not to suppress the voice of the opposition or those whose views differ from those of the government. “The Bill is to curb the extreme activities [of those] who do not believe in the country’s constitution and democracy. I assure the members of the Assembly that this law will not be misused,” Fadnavis added

However, the opposition believes that the bill can be misused against those protesting against the government and infrastructure projects 

Pawar addresses the conclave on Thursday