Even as Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) started discussing the Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, civil society groups expressed hope their concerns would be addressed now.
The NAC will take up the bill on July 14. “We are hopeful that the NAC will look into the issues raised by us. The government is not coming clear on the amendments it proposes,” said Shabnam Hashmi of the Anhad.
Ms Hashmi said she had briefed the NAC members Harsh Mander and Farah Naqvi on her reservations regarding the bill on June 24. These include fixing accountability of the Centre and the state government in case of a communal violence incident, forming an independent body to declare an area communally sensitive area as disturbed rather than empowering the government to do so and holding the local official responsible.
The government wants to hold an official responsible only if there is a malafide intention, which, said activist, cannot be proved. They also want the independent body to recommend to the government which sensitive area to be declared as communally disturbed.
Ms Hashmi further said she wants the NAC to consider including sexual violence during riots in the bill and expanding the definition of rape besides standardisation of the relief and rehabilitation measures for the victims.
The activists said though they were positive on their interactions with the law ministry, they were a bit unsure about the response of the home ministry.
On Thursday secretary of the NAC apprised the council the work carried out by the working group on the Communal Violence Bill. This includes holding consultations with senior officials of ministry of home affairs, legislative affairs, and representatives of anti-communal groups on certain issues concerning the bill.
It was decided that the working group will continue its consultations with other stake-holders and submit recommendations to NAC in the next meeting.