The Lok Sabha on Monday passed the National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill 2019 which aims to give wide ranging powers to the agency in probing offences committed against Indians or its assets abroad, set up special court and bring new offences like cyber terrorism, human trafficking, fake currency under its jurisdiction.
Before the Bill could be passed, some heated scenes were witnessed inside the house. The Opposition members charged the government of trying to turn the country into a police state, and argued that anti-terror laws were often misused against the Muslims. From the ruling party, Home Minister and BJP chief Amit Shah led the charge saying such laws were needed to keep the country safe and tried to assure the house that the provisions will not be misused.
Replying to AIMIM chief Assaduddin Owaisi's charge that terror laws are used against Muslims, Shah said the same law was used in case of Tamil terror suspects. He rubbished charges that law was used against the minorities. He said the law was needed to keep the country safe. He assured that religion of the person accused of terror charges will not be taken into account. But if anyone is doing against the law, it will be used.
Many Opposition MPs said earlier that anti-terror laws like POTA and TADA were repealed as they were misused. “I want to make it clear that it was repealed because of votebank, not because of misuse. There was no misuse. The UPA government removed it as soon it took over. It was a political decision,” Shah said.
The home minister said even many security experts said repealing POTA was a mistake. “This led to increase in terror attacks in 2004 to 2008. So, the UPA was forced to bring the NIA. Mumbai came under attack. Had there been POTA, then there would not have been such an act,” he added.
Earlier, there was a spat between Owaisi and Shah as the former was interrupting BJP MP Satyapal Singh's speech. Singh was talking about Malegoan and Hyderabad cases saying law was misused to let off suspects belonging to minority community. Owaisi said Singh should prove his charges of state government had interfered. Shah stood up and told Owaisi to develop habit of listening. “This will not work,” Shah said sternly.
Owaisi said the home minister should not try to frighten him by pointing fingers at him. Shah replied he was not trying to scare anyone. “If there is fear in your mind, what can I do,” the home minister said.
The NIA (Amendment) Bill 2019 will allow the NIA to probe cases of terrorism targeting Indians and Indian assets abroad. It will also empower the investigating agency to probe cases of arms and human trafficking and cyber terrorism.
