RS passes UAPA bill to tag individuals as terrorists

New Delhi (2 MIN READ): The Rajya Sabha on Friday passed the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment (UAPA) Bill, 2019, giving power to the centre to designate a person suspected to have terror links as a ‘terrorist’.

A bid by the opposition parties to send the Amendment Bill to a House panel was defeated. The Bill garnered criticism from the opposition which said that the provision could be misused.

After a division was called for by some members, 147 members voted in favour of the Bill while 42 voted against it.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that UAPA Bill is to fight terror and had no other purpose.

The Lok Sabha has already passed the Bill, under which the government can designate individuals as terrorists if they commit or participate in acts of terrorism, prepare for acts of terror, promote terrorism or are otherwise involved in terrorism.

Replying to the debate on the Bill, Home Minister Amit Shah said it was important to name terrorists individually as it had been seen that when terrorist organisations were banned, the terrorists floated another outfit.

Many opposition parties opposed this provision, saying this could be misused.

Congress leader P. Chidambaram said that tagging an organization as terrorist was different from naming an individual. He stressed that the provision violated individual liberty.

“Let me caution you, the government, that it will be struck down. Instead of listening to us here and making the necessary correction, you are forcing us to go about a kilometre away to another building (Supreme Court) and (ask) another set of individuals to strike it down. How does it raise the esteem of Parliament?

“We are doing something which is hopelessly unconstitutional,” the former Union Minister said, adding the Bill should be sent to a Select Committee.

By EP Web Desk

(With Inputs From IANS)

Updated on: Aug 02, 2019 at 14:45 IST  |  Published on: Aug 02, 2019 at 14:00 IST