New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha today has approved an amendment to the existing Anti-terror law which now gives the central government the power to designate an individual as a “terrorist” and seize it’s properties with as many as 147 lawmakers voting in favor of this UAPA bill.
Even though the Opposition opposed the bill and warned that the improvised law could be misused demanding a motion to send the bill to select committee, the RS approved the bill with 147 votes against the 42 oppose votes on Friday.
Debating in RS, Home Minister Amit Shah said a four-level scrutiny has been provided in the amendment and no human rights will be violated.
He argued that individuals should be declared as terrorists as they float different organisations once an institution is banned, HT reports.
Individuals can be declared terrorists if they commit or participate in acts of terrorism, prepare or promote terror, he said.
Terrorism has no religion, terrorists are against humanity, Shah argued seeking support of all parties to support stringent laws against terrorism.
“What happened during emergency? All media was banned, all opposition leaders were jailed. There was no democracy for 19 months, and you are accusing us of misusing laws? Kindly look at your past,” the home minister said in Rajya Sabha responding to Congress leader P Chidambaram’s arguments during the debate on Unlawful Activities Prevention (Amendment) Bill.
The passed bill will now designate an individual (as opposed to organisation) suspected to have terror links as a terrorist and allows the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to attach properties linked to a terror investigation without taking permission from the state police.
Former union minister Chidambaram earlier said the Congress was not against the law but opposed the amendment: “If you see reasons for amendment, it says ‘to empower NIA’. In passing you say ‘empowers Centre to add or remove an individual’s name as a terrorist’, this mischief is why we are opposing this amendment, we are not opposing Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.”
“An individual who commits terrorist act is punishable. But there is no clear differentiation driven out between punishing an unlawful association and punishing the member of unlawful organisation. Or if you say they are covered, why have you brought this amendment? What is the purpose of this amendment?” Chidambaram asked.
Responding to the Congress leader Shah said, “Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram asked as to why an individual be named a terrorist when the organisation that he belongs to has already been banned… when one organisation is banned, the same people come with a new one. How long will we keep banning organisations.”