Manas Dasgupta
Surprised at Bill seeking more powers for States
Bill termed a “piece of misconceived legislation”
Demands drafting of new legislation
AHMEDABAD: Human rights activists, legal experts and others concerned with secular principles in Gujarat have outrightly rejected the draft bill of the UPA government to prevent the recurrence of communal violence in the country.
A meeting of the Concerned Citizens of Gujarat to discuss the draft Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, 2005, expressed disappointment over such a half-hearted measure coming from the UPA government which in its Common Minimum Programme had promised a comprehensive legislation for the purpose.
With the memory of the scars inflicted during the “state-sponsored” communal riots in the State in 2002 still alive in the minds of the people, the meeting expressed surprise at the Bill seeking to give more powers to the State governments to deal with such a situation. It said many of the State governments had often been found wanting when dealing with such a situation and giving such authorities wider powers would be an uncalled for measure.
Terming the Bill a “piece of misconceived legislation,” the meeting said a measure that was expected to fill the vacuum in the existing framework and of fundamental importance to address the challenges posed to the secular character of the society was drafted in haste without following the consultative process with civil society.
It demanded drafting of a new legislation but only with active participation of the civil society through an open, transparent public process involving civil society, particularly eminent jurists, human right activists, academicians and legal experts. Without making any specific reference to the Narendra Modi government in Gujarat, it said the measure to prevent communal violence should give more powers to the citizens in their struggle against communalism and provide for stringent measures to curb mass and gender-based crimes committed with political intent.
The activists hoped that the Centre would give adequate thought to address the concerns of citizens, in the coming session of the Parliament.
