Rajya Sabha passes National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill
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The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha with 278 members voting in its favour and six against it. While it was passed in the Rajya Sabha by a voice vote
Two days after the Lok Sabha passed the National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, the Rajya Sabha also cleared the bill on Wednesday.
The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha with 278 members voting in its favour and six against it. While it was passed in the Rajya Sabha by a voice vote.
The National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill aims at enhancing the jurisdiction of NIA to investigate scheduled offences committed outside India targeting Indians as well as Indian assets abroad.
Assuring the House against the misuse of the bill, Home Minister Amit Shah said, "I want to assure the House that Prime Minister Narendra Modi government will not allow any misuse of this law."
He further urged the members to pass the Bill unanimously so that a strong message be sent to terrorists and the world that India is united in its fight against terrorism.
When the Bill was taken up for voting, Congress' T Subbirami Reddy moved some amendments, which were negated.
The amendments in the Bill will enable the NIA to additionally investigate offences related to human trafficking, counterfeit currency, manufacture or sale of prohibited arms, cyber-terrorism and offences under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908.
It also provides for constituting special courts for the trial of scheduled offences such as human trafficking and cyber terrorism.
Addressing the lower house on Monday, Home Minister Amit Shah had said, "Repealing POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) was not a right step, the number of terrorist incidents increased so much between 2004-2008 that the then UPA government had to bring in NIA. It was after Mumbai attack that it was decided to form NIA.''
The NIA was set up in 2009 in the wake of the Mumbai terror attack which had claimed 166 lives.
(With inputs from ANI)