Having rejected the government approved Communal Violence (Prevention, Control & Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill 2005, Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council will keep both, the home and the law ministries, in the loop while redrafting the legislation in order to avoid any “differences of opinion”.
On July 14, the NAC had put aside the bill, which the government was planning to introduce in the coming Monsoon Session of Parliament, and decided to prepare a fresh draft incorporating the concerns of the civil society groups.
Sources said the NAC members were unanimous that the “current form of the bill required a rethink and that several modifications were needed in the draft.”
“These changes are relevant,” remarked an NAC member.
Sources said the National Advisory Council’s main objection to the bill was to the provisions, which were meant to empower both, the state and central government, but made no mention of fixing accountability of public authorities for prevention and control of communal and sectarian violence.