National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019 Passed in Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha passed the National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019 on Monday during the monsoon session of Parliament. The Narendra Modi government asserted that the bill to broaden the NIA's investigating powers is part of its policy of zero-tolerance against terrorism.
New Delhi, July 15: The National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday during the monsoon session of Parliament. While having discussion on the bill, the Narendra Modi government asserted that the bill to broaden the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) investigating powers is part of its policy of zero-tolerance against terrorism. The government also said that the bill is in the national interest. Now, the bill will be sent to Rajya Sabha for having a discussion. ISIS Suspect Arrested From Kerala Was Planning to Carry Out Sri Lanka Easter Sunday-Type Suicide Bombings: Reports.
Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy while speaking in the lower house said that the new law will allow the NIA to probe cases of terrorism targeting Indians and Indian assets abroad. He further added the bill will also empower the agency to investigate cases of arms and human trafficking besides those linked to cyber terrorism. Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill to Increase Penalties for Traffic Violations Tabled in Lok Sabha.
Speaking on the bill, Home Minister Amit Shah slammed the then United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA). He said that it was not a right step as the number of terror-related incidents increased so much between 2004 and 2008 that the then Congress government had to bring in the NIA. The agency was formed after the 2008 Mumbai attack.
However, Congress MP Manish Tewari accused the government of trying to turn India into a "police state". Tewari said that India's founding fathers have given primacy to civil liberties as they had seen that many criminal laws were brought in by the British to keep Indians suppressed. He also accused the Modi government of using investigative agencies for political vendetta.
(With inputs from PTI)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 15, 2019 04:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).