Rajya Sabha Passes The Bill That Designates Individuals As Terrorist

Mumbai: The Rajya Sabha has passed the UAPA that is the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and many claim this amendment to be problematic. This law was introduced in 1967 when Congress was in power and the second time it was brought up in Lok Sabha during Manmohan Singh’s Tenure and the opposition, BJP supported the amendment as they found it in the nation’s interest. According to this act, the central government will have full authority to label any individual as a terrorist without any due measure or process.

Amit shah though says that the act is pro-government and anti-terrorism and if anyone tried to spread the terrorist literature and brainwash the youth could be detained under this act. According to him, terrorist should be handled with strong hands

The bills asked to give powers to the government agencies so that they could investigate a person in detail if he seems suspicious of doing any of the above activities. The bill, according to Amit shah has a detailed description of whom could be labelled as a terrorist.

As per what Amit Shah said, an individual can be declared as a terrorist of he/she:

1. Who participates in terrorist activities.

2. Helps in planning and plotting terrorist activities.

3. Works for the spread of terrorism.

4. And is associated with terrorist organizations.

Many people lose their voices against this law. This law if passed could be widely misused as framing someone as a terrorist with this law in action could not be difficult. The UAPA act runs on a belief that someone could be a terrorist and not on facts and proofs.

An individual detained under this act will have no legal remedy to rescue himself from this act. He will have to make an application before the central government for his removal from the Fourth Schedule. His application will then be presented before the review team and the decision will be made. This amendment is said to be an open assault on the fundamental rights of the citizens as if someone conveyed discontent towards the government could be branded as anti-Indian and declared a terrorist. Many have even claimed the law as draconian.

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