NEW DELHI: Addressing the NXT Conclave in the Bharat Mandapa New Delhi on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the 'Lutyens Jamaat' and 'Khan Market Gang' for their prolonged silence on oppressive colonial-era laws, specifically highlighting the Dramatic Performances Act. 

Referring to the now-abolished colonial-era Dramatic Performance Act, Modi said, “I am surprised by the ‘Lutyens’ Jamaat’ and ‘Khan Market Gang’ that they have been silent for this many years. The people who are the ‘thekedaar’ of PIL, those who visit Courts every now and then, why they weren’t worried about the Liberty back then.”

"Had Modi brought such a law (Dramatic Performance Act), just think what would have happened. Even if trolls on social media spread any such false information, these people would have raised a hue and cry and targeted Modi. But, it's our government which has abolished this law dating back to the colonial era," the prime minister said.

He further said that within a decade the Union government abolished approximately 1,500 laws that had lost their relevance, many of which were from the British era.

Enacted 150 years ago during British rule, Dramatic Performances Act allowed authorities to arrest individuals if more than ten people were dancing at events like weddings. PM Modi expressed surprise that self-proclaimed defenders of liberty and frequent public interest litigants had not opposed such restrictive laws, questioning, "Why weren't they worried about liberty back then?"

He further noted that his government has abolished approximately 1,500 obsolete laws, many from the colonial era, including regulations that criminalized cutting bamboo by classifying it as a tree. These reforms aim to enhance individual freedoms and modernize legal frameworks.

PM Modi also speculated that if his administration had introduced such restrictive laws, there would have been significant public outcry, stating, "Had Modi brought such a law... they would have set fire, pulled out my hair." 

The Prime Minister's remarks underscore his government's efforts to dismantle outdated colonial-era laws and question the selective activism of certain elite groups regarding individual liberties.