In a session marked by controversy and protests, the Lok Sabha passed three crucial bills that aim to replace India's outdated colonial-era criminal laws. The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023 were approved virtually in the absence of the Opposition, due to the suspension of 143 Opposition members following recent security breach protests.

The bills introduced by the government seek to replace the Indian Penal Code of 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) of 1973, and Indian Evidence Act of 1872. However, the passage of the laws without substantial debate has drawn criticism from the Opposition, who allege that the suspension of MPs was a ploy to pass key bills without any discussion.

The suspension of Opposition members has further strained the relationship between the government and the Opposition, with tensions escalating after a Trinamool MP mimicked Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. The number of suspensions in the Lok Sabha reached 97 today, with two more MPs being suspended.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah defended the bills, emphasizing that they aim to replace outdated colonial-era rules with legislation more suited to the current times. He stated that the new laws lay emphasis on "Indianness, the Indian Constitution, and the well-being of the people." Shah assured that he had thoroughly reviewed every detail of the new criminal laws, asserting their alignment with the spirit of the Constitution.

Shah also highlighted that the bills were withdrawn after the monsoon session to introduce new bills with some changes. The revised bills have been examined by the Standing Committee, and rather than presenting official amendments, it was decided to reintroduce the bills.

Opposition parties, including Congress, Trinamool Congress, and the DMK, strongly criticized the criminal law bills. They called for a larger public debate involving judges, jurists, lawyers, criminologists, and other stakeholders, urging comprehensive discussions before passing the bills. The Opposition also alleged that many sections of the new criminal bills were identical to the colonial laws that the government claimed to have eliminated.

Furthermore, the Opposition expressed dissatisfaction with the Hindi names of the laws, considering it an affront to non-Hindi speaking people. They advocated for the bills to be passed after the general elections next year, to ensure a wider democratic mandate.

Despite the controversy surrounding their passage, Home Minister Amit Shah defended the new laws, asserting that they will streamline the judicial process and reduce the time taken to reach court verdicts by implementing strict time-bound procedures.

With the curtain now drawn on the Lok Sabha session, the nation waits to see the impact and implementation of these new criminal laws, which have passed amidst heightened tensions and suspension of Opposition members.