Lok Sabha approves Anti-terror bills

New Delhi, Dec 18: Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Dec 18 approved the the two bills for setting up a National Investigation Agency (NIA) and amending the existing law to deal with terrorism more effectively. During the session government asserted that a balance of requirement of law and human rights had been ensured in these measures.

Replying to a five-hour debate on the two bills, Union Home Minister P Chidamabaram said that the new tough measures to deal with terrorism will not be misused as adequate safeguards have been envisioned, including setting up of an independent authority of judicial experts to review cases that are probed and tried.

He denied the opposition party's allegations that the amended Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) is 'POTA through back door' and said that the new measures should not be seen from the 'communal prism.' Contending that the nation could not afford to 'lower its guard' as 'eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,' he said these measures are aimed at giving a 'sense of confidence' to the people as also to the police forces that culprits could not go unpunished.

OneIndia News (With inputs from Agencies)