New Delhi: Facing stiff opposition from the BJP and some non-UPA parties over the controversial Communal Violence Bill, the Centre has decided to drop several provisions to ensure that the legislation is neutral between communities and reduced its role in handling of riots.
Sources said the home and the law ministries were working overtime to ensure the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2013 is placed before the Cabinet at the earliest so that it can be introduced in the current session itself as this is being largely viewed as the UPA’s last Parliament session before Lok Sabha elections next year.
The sources noted the UPA was willing to walk the extra mile in making significant amendments to some of the clauses being opposed by the political outfits. The Centre has diluted the role of the proposed National Authority for Communal Harmony, Justice and Reparation to being merely advisory as earlier it could intervene in a communal situation in a state and even direct deployment of paramilitary forces.
The draft Bill is also made neutral between all groups or communities. The earlier version of the Bill specifically mentioned that the onus of riots lay on the majority community. The fresh initiative has been taken in the wake of criticism by the BJP, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and her Tamil Nadu counterpart J. Jayalalithaa.
