Centre drafts ‘neutral’ Communal Violence Bill

• Officers responsible for failing to prevent riots
• There is no onus on majority community
• There is no violation of federal structure
• Centre to act only on recommendations of States

New Delhi: Faced with a belligerent opposition, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government has been forced to make several changes in the original draft of the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2013.

According to CNN-IBN , the draft copy of the contentious bill, the new draft proposes to be neutral between communities and there is no onus on the majority community.

Administrative and police officers will be held responsible in the event of failure to prevent riots, said sources. They also point out that after the chances there is no violation of federal structure and the Centre can take action only on the recommendation of the states.

After the law comes into force, the Centre will be duty bound to send forces to riot-hit areas only on the request of the local administration.

Sources add that state governments were consulted by the Union Home Ministry before the changes were incorporated in the draft.

The opposition had targeted the Centre over the Communal Violence Bill with Bharatiya Janata Party prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi writing to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh against bringing it in the Winter Session of Parliament.

Terming the timing of the move by the government suspicious, Modi on Thursday tweeted "Political considerations and vote bank politics rather than genuine concerns are guiding it."

However, the Prime Minister responded by saying that it will be the government's effort to evolve a consensus on all matters of legislative importance.

Even AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has voiced her opinion against the proposed legislation. Biju Janata Dal was also against the earlier version of the Bill.

Pitching for the smooth passage the Bill in the current session, Minorities Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan today said it is not a divisive Bill and efforts are on to arrive at a consensus on the issue.

"Consultations are going on to bring the Bill in the session. Home Ministry is discussing it with other states seeking opinions," Khan said.

Government is moving ahead with the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence Bill that aims to protect minorities against targeted attacks. Asked about the opinions of other parties on the draft Bill, Khan said "There is no need for disagreement over the draft Bill. Our efforts are to have a consensus on it."

On Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's opposition to the Bill, he said "Perhaps he does not want any such law. Worst communal violence has taken place in Gujarat and he had failed to control it. It is the duty of the Centre to bring the law."

Modi has dubbed the communal violence Bill as a "recipe for disaster."

Making a scathing attack on Modi for opposing the Bill, Janata Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi said "there are obvious reasons for Modi to oppose the Bill. The Government of Gujarat is solely responsible for massacre in Godhra. It is natural for Modi to oppose it."

SP leader Ramgopal Yadav, however, refused to comment on the anti-riot Bill saying, "there is no possibility of such bill to come this time. No controversial bill will come this time."

Pressing further to clarify his stand on the Bill, Yadav said, "It is a hypothetical question so I would not comment."

Describing the Babri mosque demolition as "shameful" he said, his party would raise the issue tomorrow in the House and not allow it to function.

The Lokjanshakti Party (LJP) supported introduction of Bill in Parliament and asked BJP to place its arguments in the House instead of trying to stall the presentation.

The Trinamool Congress vowed to oppose the Bill and vote against it if brought in the ongoing Winter session of the Parliament.