Janjivan Bureau / New Delhi : Lok Sabha passed the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019, on Wednesday despite the Opposition’s walkout.
Congress, Trinamool Congress, and the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham led Opposition walkout. Interestingly, Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav supported the Bill that Home Ministry claims is essential to deal with terrorism in the country. Later, Home Minister Amit Shah walked up to Yadav to thank him for his support.
Although most of the Opposition walked out of the session to protest the Bill, eight opposition Members of Parliament, including the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, chose to stay behind to oppose the Bill. The MPs who stayed back asked for division of votes for each proposed amendment, but were defeated.
Shah meanwhile said the amendments were necessary to keep law enforcement agencies a step ahead of terrorists. He also said the laws will not be misused—a fear the opposition has repeatedly voiced.
Opposition protested the Bill on the ground that not only could the proposed law be misused, but also that it went against the federal structure of India’s Constitution.
Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra said there was fear that the provisions could be used as a tool for political vendetta.
“Features of the Bill are anti-people and anti-Constitution. It is a very dangerous act,” she said.
Bahujan Samaj Party’s Danish Ali voiced similar fears.
Nationalist Congress Party’s Supriya Sule pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had opposed amendments to the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) when he was chief minister of Gujarat on the ground that it impinged upon states’ jurisdiction.
“It was the Centre’s duty to consult states. Federal structures are being snatched,” she said, quoting Modi then.
Under the new amendments, individuals could be designated terrorists if they commit or participate, prepare, promote or are otherwise involved in acts of terrorism. An investigating officer must obtain the prior approval of the Director General of Police to seize properties connected with militant activities. Investigations conducted by National Investigation Agency (NIA) officer needs the approval of the agency’s Director General.
NIA is the agency that investigates terrorism cases in the country.
Investigation may be conducted by officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent or Assistant Commissioner of Police or above. The amendment also empowers NIA officers of the rank of inspector or above to investigate cases.
