Cabinet clears anti-communal violence bill

The UPA government has been moving the pawns ahead to introduce the controversial Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence Bill in the ongoing session of Parliament.

On Monday, after a meeting of the Union cabinet that lasted for nearly three hours, the Union Home Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde said, “We will try to introduce the Bill in Parliament tomorrow".

It is learnt that the NCP chief and Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar bothered whether the views of the various state governments had been obtained; and if the Bill would disturb the fragile Centre-state relations.

His worries are very close to the concerns of various states ruled by the opposition parties. It is learnt that the Centre has significantly thinned the provisions of the original Bill according to which the Central government has been empowered to intervene in a riot-hit area if the state government fails to restrain violence.

After the approval of the diluted bill by the union cabinet, now, the bill is proposed to move in the upper house of Parliament for discussion and recommendations.