Harsh Bora - UAPA Amended: The Govt Is Stealing Our Liberty From Under Our Feet
Understandable concern
over the events in Jammu
and Kashmir have meant that the Indian government’s recent amendments
to the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) have
passed relatively unnoticed.
While a provision that
gives the Central Government the power to declare persons as ‘terrorist
individuals’ was the subject of heated debate in Parliament, the ruling Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) introduced two more amendments that should give all citizens
cause for concern. Both amendments vastly
expand the already bloated powers of the National
Investigation Agency (NIA), and by extension the Ministry of Home, and
further entrench the problematic trend of the unfettered centralisation of
power, through extending the political executive’s rein entirely unchecked.
The Government claims
these amendments will strengthen the anti-terror law by removing legal
obstacles to combating terrorism and terrorist activity. But a closer glimpse
at speeches in Parliament and the pronouncements of government representatives
suggests the UAPA is likely to be used against the government’s critics, rather
than those who actually pose a threat to the nation...
read more:
https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/uapa-draconian-amendments_in_5d5ab45ee4b0eb875f27018b?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaHVmZmluZ3RvbnBvc3QuaW4v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAEJWedc4g85nssuJzghkfV11jfO6v7aGkYUHvRLIH9uPWQUj6qKk8AWZZSTqwW5RqjVhHSJDfwUeURdI6_E_PZa5KzTtb7HEAVlLCvw2nesW_6T2KmNcX1aNgA0MpzvMFMI4FpGWWU8Le_ASEr21ptKaHIpjektkAC-wIBo9sXTB&guccounter=2