Amended Communal Violence Bill will be introduced soon, says Chidambaram
The Centre will soon introduce the Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation) Bill with amendments in order to prevent violence perpetuated in the name of caste and religion, said Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Saturday.
Unveiling a statue of B.R. Ambedkar at Karaikudi, he said the Parliament Standing Committee had recommended some amendments to the Bill, which was recently placed in Parliament.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who was not convinced about its present form, had also suggested changes to make it tougher for those instigating caste and communal violence. The draft Bill would be ready soon with the changes.
Mr. Chidambaram said it was not acceptable to hear news of communal and caste violence even after several years of Independence. It could not be digested if the violence happened in the land where great leaders such as Periyar, Anna, Kamaraj lived and preached the ideals of social and communal harmony.
The proposed law would play a lead role in preventing violence. It would enable law enforcers to take stringent measures against those instigating and organising communal violence.
Paying rich tributes to Ambedkar, he said it was Mahatma Gandhi who got freedom from the colonial rule through non-violence and ahimsa struggle, but it was Ambedkar who gave freedom to people through the Constitution. Many countries had drafted their Constitution based on his work.
He said many neighbours, including Pakistan, Myanmar and others, who got freedom during the time India was liberated, had a history of spending many years under dictatorship or military rule. People there could not walk freely or speak freely. But, India was among the countries that ensured freedom to people in all aspects. This was because of the Constitution framed by Ambedkar.
K.R. Periakaruppan, Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment, said the country would have faced many problems if Ambedkar had not framed the Constitution.
Improvement in status
A. Tamilarasi, Minister of Adi Dravidar Welfare, said the status of oppressed and suppressed communities had improved a lot because of the seeds sown by Ambedkar.
U. Mathivanan, Minister for Dairy Development; V. P. Duraisamy, Deputy Speaker, N. Sundaram, MLA; K.SM. Manimuthu, coordinator, Ambedkar Kottamaippu, which organised the event; and Ponnambala Desigar of Kundrakudi Mutt took part.
The Hindu : Cities / Chennai : Amended Communal Violence Bill will be introduced soon, says Chidambaram
Rajneesh Madhok
