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Communal violence Bill runs into trouble

By The Assam Tribune

NEW DELHI, Sept 10 � The proposed Communal Violence Bill today ran into trouble with NDA-ruled states and Congress ally Trinamool Congress opposing it as �dangerous� legislation and arguing that it would hurt the federal structure of the country, reports PTI.

At a meeting of National Integration Council (NIC) where the issue was on the agenda, NDA and Chief Ministers of the states ruled by it � Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Punjab � expressed opposition to the draft legislation in its current form.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, who also attended the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, said the proposed legislation was �dangerous� as it would �encourage communalism� rather than curbing it by furthering the divide between majority and minority communities.

Dinesh Trivedi, senior leader of Trinamool Congress, a key constituent of the UPA, said his party also opposes the Bill in the present form.

Opposing the Bill, Chief Minister of BJD-ruled Orissa Naveen Patnaik, said it has some �objectionable� provisions which �directly affect the autonomy of states�.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, whose speech was read out in absentia, said �it is not the opportune moment to comment on the Bill�.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar voiced concern over certain provisions in the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Regulations) Bill 2011, saying it may create �impression� among the people at large that majority community is �always responsible for communal incidents.�

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said the Bill was intended to meet �vested interests� and may undermine the country�s federal structure.

Questioning the need for the Bill, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman said it went against the federal spirit as it will directly interfere with the legitimate authority of states.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank asked the Prime Minister and Home Minister P Chidambaram to give up their desire to pass the Bill in its present form, saying the legislation would be a �big blow� to national integration.

Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal said the Bill that the government was trying to bring could lead to �avoidable confrontation� between the Centre and states as sections of it were a �direct transgression of states� authority�.

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