New Delhi: The opposition parties slammed the central government after Lok Sabha passed the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, with 278 members supporting the amendment on Wednesday.
"With this type of Act, the government is trying to suppress the opposition. And no doubt they will take advantage of this act for their political gain," said Hannan Mollah, Senior CPM leader and a former MP.
The UAPA Act of 2019 sought certain changes in the UAPA, 1967. However, the amendment to the act has effectively been made thrice in the years 2004, 2008 and 2013.
"Earlier, the previous government tried to take advantage of another Act called the TADA Act. They misused the act by not only arresting the accused but also harass other people in the name of a suspected terrorist," said Naba Sarania, an independent Lok Sabha MP from Assam.
The amended version of UAPA, 2019 helps in removing certain legal infirmities and also ensure the domestic law complies with international obligations.
Some of the salient features of the amended UAPA, 2019 are listed below:
1. Schedule 4 of the UAPA will allow the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to designate an individual suspected to have terror links as a terrorist.
2. After the amendment, if an investigation is being carried by an NIA officer, approval of the NIA DG will be sufficient for the seizure of terror-related property.
3. The bill additionally empowers the officers of the NIA of the rank of inspector or above, to investigate cases.
4. Banning of an individual terrorist under the UAPA will add India's request to other countries to designate them as a most wanted terrorist.
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