What Is NIA Amendment Bill And Why The Opposition Is Against It
Tuesday, July 16, 2019 IST
While the centre maintained that passing the bill was in the country's best interests, the opposition expressed fear that it could end up turning India into a "police state".
NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill-2019, introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on July 8, was passed by the Lok Sabha on Monday amid protests by the Opposition. While the government maintained that broadening the central probe agency's investigation powers through the legislation was essential for implementing its zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, the opposition claimed that it would end up turning India into a "police state".
The proposed amendment to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act-2008 aims to provide the probe agency with powers to investigate scheduled offences such as human trafficking; circulation of fake currency; manufacture and sale of prohibited arms; and cyber-terrorism. It also allows for the creation of special courts for adjudicating such crimes.
The bill also seeks to allow the NIA jurisdiction over scheduled offences committed outside India, subject to international treaties and the domestic laws of other countries. A special court in New Delhi will preside over such cases.
Amit Shah sought the support of all the members of the house regardless of political affiliation during the discussion that preceded voting on the bill, stating that a division in the house would send out a wrong message and boost the morale of terrorists.
However, Congress parliamentarian Manish Tewari said that providing the NIA with sweeping powers on a par with any officer across the country would not be desirable at a time when probe agencies were being "misused by the centre for political vendetta". He also claimed that an amendment should not be made when the constitutional validity of the original NIA Act was being challenged in various courts.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, on the other hand, said it was meaningless to extend the NIA's jurisdiction over foreign countries when the government lacks the "diplomatic clout" to do so. "We should not attempt to be like America and Israel. They are not democracies in the ideal sense," he added.
The Home Minister rejected the opposition's allegations of misuse, stating that the NIA would not be used for any purpose other than tackling terrorism. "Let me make this clear. The Modi government has no such intention. Its only goal is to finish off terrorism," news agency PTI quoted him as saying.
The NIA was set up in 2009 by the then United Progressive Alliance government after the Mumbai terror attacks, which claimed 166 lives. It is empowered to investigate terror cases across the country without acquiring special permission from the states.
Related Topics
Trending News & Articles
ALMATY: Hour upon hour, day upon day, Omir Bekali and other detainees in far western China's new indoctrination camps had to disavow the...
Recently posted . 212K views . 1 min read
If you have payed attention to the belly buttons of people on the beach or the members of your family, you have probably noticed that they have different shapes and...
Recently posted . 10K views . 2 min read
The Langya henipavirus has a place with a similar group of infections, including Nipah, which is known to kill up to 3/4 of people in extreme cases.
Recently posted . 5K views . 1 min read
Queen's death: The eldest of her four children, Charles, Prince of Wales, who at 73 was the oldest heir apparent in British history, became king immediately...
Recently posted . 5K views . 1 min read
More in National
Illinois: President Barack Obama wiped away tears as he paid tribute to his teenage daughters and to Michelle Obama, his "closest companion," at the pas...
Recently posted. 864 views . 22 min read
Sanjay Dutt’s biopic Sanju is breaking records on domestic box office collection. This movie has decent entertainment value across age groups. Sanjay ...
Recently posted. 1K views . 1 min read
Captain Sergio Ramos says he wants to end his career at Real Madrid despite receiving an offer to play in China.
Recently posted. 851 views . 0 min read
Recently posted . 126 views
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 2K views
Recently posted . 2K views
Recently posted . 3K views . 99 min read
Recently posted . 3K views . 67 min read
Genome shows no Steppe pastoralist or Iranian farmer link.
Recently posted. 886 views . 0 min read
We regret to inform you that in a matter of hours the Internet will be shutting down. For good. Forever. When you try to return to Wonderopolis later, all you'l...
Recently posted. 880 views . 1 min read