Political fireworks on the controversial National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) are expected to be witnessed in the national capital as early as Tuesday when MPs of all political parties meet to discuss the proposed amendments to the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Notably, the NCTC derives its powers directly from the UAPA.
The home ministry has now proposed to expand the scope of the UAPA to cover crimes threatening the “economic security’’ of the country and raise the period of banning an unlawful organisation from two to five years.
The Union home ministry’s UAPA amendment bill is placed before the parliamentary standing committee on home affairs for discussion on Tuesday.
A string of political parties, led by the BJP, AIADMK and CPI, are preparing to take up the issue of NCTC’s alleged sweeping powers of arrest and search under UAPA at Tuesday’s meet.
Some of the MPs are expected to demand a clarification from the MHA on its move to issue an executive order this month for the setting up of the NCTC at a time when the UAPA amendment bill is still under consideration of Parliament. Some chief ministers have termed the NCTC powers “draconian’’ and an infringement of the federal rights of states.
CPI Rajya Sabha MP D. Raja, who will participate in Tuesday’s standing committee on home affairs meet, said, “The home ministry must explain the NCTC notification. The powers given to the body under the UAPA is usurping the powers of the state governments ,which is disturbing the Centre-state relations.”
The UAPA, which lends its powers to the NCTC, is also being amended so as to enlarge its scope relating to punishment for raising funds for terror acts. It includes new provisions for “offences by companies, societies or trusts and provide for punishment”.
The legislation also includes provisions for forfeiture and attachment of properties linked with terrorism or counterfeit currency.
The MHA is bracing to meet any challenge in the form of questions raised by MPs on the NCTC order during Tuesday’s meet.
“If the issue (of NCTC) is raised, we will respond. But the bill placed before the standing committee for discussion has nothing to do with NCTC. The anti-terror body derives its powers from the existing UAPA,” a senior MHA official said. However, apprehending that the issue may be raised, the ministry officials said they are ready to clarify their stand.
More than a dozen chief ministers, including UPA ally and Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, along with other non-Congress and BJP CMs, have sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s intervention to recall and review the home ministry’s order on setting up of the NCTC.