The government asserted on Monday that a bill to broaden the NIA’s investigating powers is part of its policy of zero-tolerance against terrorism and is in the National interest, as Lok Sabha took up a discussion on the proposed legislation.
While Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy sought thesupport of all parties for the passage of the National Investigation Agency(Amendment) Bill, 2019, Manish Tewari of the Congress accused the government oftrying to turn India into a “police state”.
Reddy told the House that the new law will allow the NIA toprobe cases of terrorism targeting Indians and Indian assets abroad, and alsoempower the agency to investigate cases of arms and human trafficking besidesthose linked to cyber terrorism.
“We want to fightterrorism with zero tolerance and have brought this bill in the Nationalinterest. I pray to all of you for its passage,” he said.
Tewari opposed the bill, saying probe agencies are misusedfor “political vendetta” and “inspired media leaks” from them have turned themaxim of “innocent until proven guilty” on its head.
He also claimed that the constitutional validity of the NIAAct, which led to the investigation agency’s formation, is still not settled aspleas challenging its validity are pending in different courts.
Earlier, several opposition members, including N KPremachandran and Saugata Roy, questioned the government’s decision to push fora discussion amid the ongoing budget- related debates but Speaker Om Birlaruled that a debate can start. Reddy said the NIA has been doing a good workand secured conviction in over 90 per cent of cases. It has so far registered272 cases out of which judgement has been delivered in 52, he added.
Appropriate punishment to the accused at times is not metedout to criminals involved in human trafficking, he said, pitching for the NIAto probe these cases.
With terrorism having international dimensions, he said itis imperative that the NIA is empowered to probe incidents of terrorismtargeting Indians, the Indian embassy and other assets abroad.
Tewari said India’s founding fathers have given primacy tocivil liberties as they had seen that many criminal laws were brought in by theBritish to keep Indians suppressed.
When investigation agencies are seen as being misused forpolitical vendetta, then there is a fundamental problem with a bill that seeksto empower a probe body, he said. Tewari though added that his allegation isnot aimed at any particular government and is generic.
He also demanded a separation between investigation andprosecution wings for a fair probe.He accused the government of seeking to turn thecountry into a police state, and said its ramifications will last beyond itstenure.