Mamata Banerjee on Thursday wrote a letter of “grave concern” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to defer the scheduled July 1 implementation of a triad of new crime laws to enable a fresh parliamentary review.

The three laws — some of whose provisions the Bengal chief minister has repeatedly criticised as “draconian, anti-citizen and reactionary” — are to replace the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act.

Thursday’s letter was Mamata’s third to the Centre in seven months against the three laws, after she had written to Union home minister Amit Shah on November 29 and December 16 last year.

In the letter, widely circulated on Friday, Mamata told Modi that a review of the three laws by Parliament, including the new Lok Sabha, would reinforce public trust in the legal system.

She said the government had passed the bills in an “authoritarian manner” on December 20, with “absolutely no debate”, amid the chaos over the controversial suspension of 146 Opposition members from both Houses of Parliament.

“The Bills were passed in an authoritarian manner in that dark hour of democracy. Matter deserves review now,” she wrote in her two-and-a-half-page letter.

The Congress and the DMK too have opposed the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, which are to replace the IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act, respectively.

Mamata’s letter was despatched on a day Congress veteran P. Chidambaram — a member of the parliamentary standing committee that had examined the bills — visited the chief minister at the state secretariat.

Sources in the Trinamool Congress said the three laws were a key point of discussion between her and the former Union home minister.

“Indeed, I urge your esteemed office now to consider at least a deferment of the implementation date. Reasons are twofold: ethical, and practical,” Mamata’s letter to Modi said.

Underlining the ethical reasons, Mamata wrote: “Given the wide-ranging reservations expressed in the public domain regarding the hurriedly passed new laws, fresh Parliamentary review of these attempts would demonstrate a commitment to democratic principles and foster greater transparency and accountability in the legislative process.”

She said a review would give the newly elected Lok Sabha a chance to thoroughly examine the new laws, address the concerns raised by various stakeholders, and ensure that the laws reflect the people’s collective will and aspirations.

“Such renewed parliamentary oversight/ mandate would reinforce public confidence in the legislative process and enhance the legitimacy of the legal reforms,” she added.

As practical reasons for a postponement, Mamata said there should be a thorough assessment of the challenges the new laws may pose and adequate training given to law enforcers and judicial officers.

“Any far-reaching legal change requires meticulous groundwork beforehand to ensure effective enforcement and administration and we do not have any reason to avert such homework,” she wrote.

Governor letter

Governor C.V. Ananda Bose has written to the chief minister expressing concern at the state of law and order in Bengal amid a slew of complaints of post-poll violence, Raj Bhavan sources said.

They said Bose had asked Mamata to ensure impartial action by the police, and sought details about the measures taken by the state to contain the violence.