By RINA,
New Delhi: The Amnesty International has cast aspersions over the new anti-terror Law and described it as “a decision in haste”. Amnesty International was of the view that although it is the responsibility of the state its citizens, however, fundamental Human Rights should not be violated.
The rights group has raised several pertinent questions over most of the clauses of the Bill. The spokesperson of the Amnesty International Ms. Madhu Malhotra specifically questioned the validity of such clauses as the definition of terrorism, enhancement in the period of detention by the police, non issue of bail to the residents of other cities, inability of the accused to defend him/herself etc. Ms. Malhotra was wary that in the event of this Bill turning into a Law it would pave the way for gross Human Rights violations and obstruct in upholding the rule of Law.
The Parliament had on Wednesday passed the new anti-terror Bill – Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill 2008 – and has sent to the President Ms. Prathiba Patil.
This measure is taken to contain the growing incidents of terrorism in the country. It is said to be tougher than the earlier infamous POTA. The police are set to be given more powers in proposed Bill to act hard on the culprits. Congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is taking it as major achievement in combating the menace of terrorism. Where on the one side the mood is upbeat in the ruling party, on the other it has raised eyebrows of the Muslims in the country. They perceive it as specifically targeted against the Muslim community and yet another tool to harass them. This Bill in reality is nothing more than “an old wine in a new bottle”.
The National President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Maulana Jalaluddin Umari has severely criticised the new amended Bill. “This is no better than the earlier POTA. In fact it is more dangerous than that” claimed he. He was sceptical about the human rights violation under the new law. “In a democratic nation like India it is vulnerable to abuse. We should strongly oppose this”, maintained Maulana Umari.
President of Muslim Majlis Mushawarat Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan pointed out, “The new anti-terror Bill provides for a maximum of 180 day detention without charge by the police although the same was 90 days in POTA. This increase in detention period makes it more dangerous than POTA. Hence I feel it should be debated and some more amendments are required before it becomes a Law”.
General Secretary of All India Milli Council (AIMC) condemned the new Bill and termed it “a step in haste”. “We will soon call a convention in which legal experts as well human rights activists would be called to deliberate on the Bill”, declared he. Justice Rajnedra Sachar asserted, “The new Bill would prove more harmful especially for the minorities of the country. It is actually nothing but a mechanism to strengthen the hands of the police”.