49 CHANGES LIKELY IN COMMUNAL VIOLENCE BILL

Having attracted criticism over some clauses of its draft of the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2011, the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) on June 22 decided to effect a number of amendments – 49 in total – to the earlier draft. Among the controversial provisions that the NAC will delete from its draft is the one that gives power to the Centre to take steps to check communal violence anywhere in the country. BJP had questioned the proposal to allow the Centre to unilaterally intervene in situations in states, saying that it would “intrude into the domain of the state” and damage the federal polity since law and order is a state subject in the Constitution. At the meeting, it was also decided that the provision defining communal and targeted violence will be re-worked. Clauses dealing with power and functions of the National Authority for Communal Harmony, Justice and Reparation will also go.