Church welcomes new anti-terror bills, urges redefinition of 'terrorism'

Church in India welcomed the UPA government's decision to pass anti-terror laws and the setting up of a national investigative agency.

The bills were passed following last month's attacks on Mumbai by suspected Islamic terrorists that killed 184 people. It is now awaiting President Pratibha Patil's approval.

In the Dec. 18 letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) said: "We would like to congratulate you and the UPA Government for introducing The National Investigation Agency Bill 2008 in-order to deal with the terrorism in the country."

However, still unsatisfied, they have urged the govt. to have a comprehensive definition of "terrorism".

"Keeping in mind communal violence that takes place in our country through inflammatory speeches and hate campaign towards religious minorities by anti-social elements; it is imperative that the definition of a terrorist is made more comprehensive," the letter said.

Reminding Prime Minister Singh of the violence in Orissa, Karnataka and Gujarat, the letter continued, "We personally feel that the definition of a terrorist" in the new amendment is limited "in comparison to the definition of a terrorist in The National Security Guard Act, 1986."

According to the National Security Act 1986, the term "terrorist" has been defined as any person "with intent to over-awe the government," strike terror "in the people or any section of the people or to alienate any section of the people or to adversely affect the harmony amongst different sections of the people."

Any act or thing by using bombs, dynamite or other explosive substances or inflammable substances or firearms or other lethal weapons or poisons or noxious gases or other chemicals or any other substances of a hazardous nature, in such a manner as to cause, or as is likely to cause, death of, or injuries to, any person or persons or damage to, or destruction of, property or disruption of any supplies or services essential to the life of the community."

Indian Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram defended the bill in Parliament on Wednesday as providing an "adequate balance" between "the demands of human rights and the people of India for strong anti-terror laws."