By IANS,
New Delhi : Opposition parties slammed as “dangerous” and an infringement on the powers of the states the provisions of the communal violence bill, drafted by the National Advisory Council, with even UPA ally Trinamool Congress joining in the criticism of the proposed legislation at the National Integration Council (NIC) meeting here Saturday.
At the 15th meeting of NIC, being held after three years, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expressed its firm opposition to the bill. Several ruling parties in states including Trinamool Congress, Biju Janata Dal, Janata Dal-United and Shiromani Akali Dal also voiced their opposition to the communal violence bill.
The finalised bill, which was put in the public domain in July, was taken up for discussion at the meeting.
BJP president Nitin Gadkari said the draft bill was dangerous. “It not only usurps the power of the states, it encroaches on personal liberty and discriminates on the basics of caste and religion,” Gadkari said in a note submitted to the NIC meeting.
Leaders of Opposition in the two houses Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaittey, who took part in the meeting, also opposed the bill.
“The bill is very dangerous. Law and order is a state subject… it will impact centre-state relations,” Sushma Swaraj said.
Home Secretary R.K. Singh later said the government will take into account views expressed by participants on the communal violence bill.
“We will keep them in view when we process (the bill),” he said, adding that the proposed legislation will be in consonance with the constitution.
He said it had been decided that the NIC meeting will be held every year.
The Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Regulations) Bill, 2011 seeks to shift the focus from empowering the state to seeking action and accountability of public officials. It defines communal and targeted violence.
Earlier, inaugurating the NIC meeting, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said there was need to address the causes of radicalisation of sections of youth.
“We need to identify and address the causes of radicalisation of some of our youth,” Singh said.
The NIC meeting comes in the backdrop of the terror strike in Delhi earlier this week that killed 13 people.
The prime minister said that problems of terrorism and leftwing extremism constitute two major challenges to the country’s society and polity.
“The terrorist attack in Delhi last Wednesday is a stark reminder to us that there can be no let up in our vigilance,” he said.
The NIC meeting discussed measures to promote communal harmony, eliminate discrimination, especially against minorities and Scheduled Tribes, and ways in which the state and police should handle civil disturbances.
Participating in the meeting, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan contended that the communal violence bill may encourage intolerance and harm federalism.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi kept away from the NIC meeting, apparently to register his opposition to the communal violence bill and to state Governor Kamla Beniwal appointing the Lokayukta without consulting his government.
Trinamool Congress leader Dinesh Trivedi told reporters that West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra, who represented the state at the NIC meeting, opposed the provisions of the bill.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP chief Mayawati, whose speech was read out, said “it is not the opportune moment to comment on the bill.”
Tamil Nadu chief minister and AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa, too has opposed the bill, claiming that it infringed upon the states’ powers and was against the spirit of the federal structure of India’s Constitution.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of the Janata Dal-United voiced concern over some provisions of the bill saying it may create an impression that the majority community is always responsible for communal violence, while Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of Akali Dal said the bill could lead “to avoidable confrontation.”
Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of Biju Janata Dal also expressed his reservations over the bill.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist said in a statement that there was need for a legislation that gives teeth to measures that need to be taken to curb communal violence but said it should be in keeping with the federal principle as state governments have the primary responsibility for maintenance of law and order.
The party said the law should focus only on “communal violence” and not broaden itself to other forms of conflicts and violence.