The step was taken after the murder of Narendra Dabholkar. The well-known activist who fought for years against fake magical practices and animal sacrifices was shot dead by unknown gunmen. Since 1995, the state was trying to adopt such a measure, always coming up against the opposition of radical Hindu groups.

Pune (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Maharashtra is banning black magic. State authorities have issued an ordinance against false gurus using pseudo-mystical rituals to feed superstitions and popular beliefs.

The step was taken with a certain urgency following the murder of Narendra Dabholkar, 69, one of the staunchest critics of magical practices in modern India, who was assassinated yesterday in Pune by a stranger.

Maharashtra will be the first Indian state to adopt anti-black magic measures in the country.

Discussed and debated for more than ten years, the Maharashtra Eradication of Blind Faith Bill was first introduced in 1995 and redrafted at least 29 times.

Dabholkar and his Committee for the Eradication of Blind Faith (Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Maharashtra Samiti) fought hard to get it approved.

The bill was not passed for a long time because of opposition from radical Hindu groups, who called it "anti-Hindu" and "anti-religion", this in a country where mysticism and spirituality are part of everyday life and tradition.

However, Dabholkar had always rejected such accusations. "In the whole of the bill, there's not a single word about God or religion. Nothing like that. The Indian constitution allows freedom of worship and nobody can take that away," he explained. "This is about fraudulent and exploitative practices," such as animal sacrifices, which the activist rejected.

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