BJP terms communal violence bill 'obnoxious'

Terming the communal violence bill  “the most obnoxious piece of legislation in independent India”, BJP on Saturday said “it is divisive and discriminatory”.

“The 2011 draft, which the National Advisory Council prepared, I have not the least doubt, is the most obnoxious peace of legislation in independent India,” Arun Jaitley, the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, said.

“For instance, in Muzaffarnagar violence if this bill had existed and both communities had representatives who were guilty of violence, one would be prosecuted under this law, others would not,” he said, terming the controversial bill divisive and discriminatory.

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh, however, said the bill has been prepared to curb the “ideology of hate and violence”. “This is something absolutely important in a multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multi-caste society that India is,” he said. Both the leaders were speaking at a discussion “A new vision for India” at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit held here.

Asked their views on the rise of Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party, which exit polls have predicted would make a strong debut in Delhi Assembly polls, Jaitley said it has to be seen whether it is a long lasting phenomenon or not.