B Mishra / NEW DELHI
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Unlawful Activities (Prevention), Amendment Bill, 2019 amid the walkout of Congress-led opposition from the House.
Earlier, the House rejected the amendments moved by Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM with 288 members voting against the amendments and only eight in favour.
The bill seeks to further amend the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, UAPA 1967. It empowers the government to designate individuals as terrorists if the person commits or participates in acts of terrorism, prepares for terrorism, promotes terrorism or is otherwise involved in terrorism.
The bill also empowers the Director-General, National Investigation Agency (NIA) to grant approval of seizure or attachment of property when the case is investigated by the agency.
Replying the debate over the bill, Home Minister Amit Shah stressed the need for a tough law to deal with terrorism and assured the House that the Bill has enough safeguards so that it is not misused.
He said the fight against terrorism should be above party politics and called for unity against the menace.
Mr. Shah said those who finance and help terrorists should also be called terrorists. The Minister also said people who are involved in what he called urban Maoism will not be spared.
After the Minister’s reply, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary reiterated demand to send the bill to Standing Committee for further scrutiny.
Opposing the Bill, Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM said the legislation violates Article 21 and also lacks judicial review.
Danish Ali of BSP also questioned the intent of the Bill saying the UAPA is used to just detain people in jail and deny them a trial. Mahua Moitra of TMC termed the bill as anti-federalism and anti-people.