<p>Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today supported the Communal Violence Bill, but insisted on a political dialogue with states before finalising it if the Congress-led UPA was serious about the matter and not bringing it on the eve of elections to derive political benefits.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"Its a welcome step which was desired for long," Kumar told reporters emerging from a meeting of the cabinet here.<br /><br />His former NDA partner BJP has opposed the Bill with its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi describing it as "recipe for disaster."<br /><br />Kumar, who is the driving force of the JD(U), insisted on political dialogue with the states before giving it shape of a law.<br /><br />"Consultation at executive level conducted by the Union Home Secretary with states is not sufficient. There should be political dialogue with the states before finalising the legislation if the Congress-led UPA is serious on the issue and not bringing it for discussion on the eve of the 2014 elections to derive political benefits," he said.<br /><br />The Bihar Chief Minister said there were talks for such a legislation for several years and many drafts were made, but nothing concrete happened.<br /><br />"Now that the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Accessto Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2013, has been cleared by the Union Cabinet for introduction in the Parliament, its a desired step," he said.<br /><br />Kumar said his party thinks if some state fails to stop communal violence, the Centre should declare it as a "disturbed area" and intervene directly. Besides, the victims should be given adequate compensation.<br /><br />Highlighting the seriousness of his government towards riots victims, he said after coming to power in 2005, a commission was set up in 2006 on the 1990 communal violence in Bhagalpur.<br /><br />Many cases were reopened and chargesheet submitted in the courts to nail the culprits, he said.<br /><br />For victims of Bhagalpur riots, the Bihar government doubled the life long pension to Rs 5000 a month recently, Kumar added. <br /></p>
<p>Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today supported the Communal Violence Bill, but insisted on a political dialogue with states before finalising it if the Congress-led UPA was serious about the matter and not bringing it on the eve of elections to derive political benefits.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"Its a welcome step which was desired for long," Kumar told reporters emerging from a meeting of the cabinet here.<br /><br />His former NDA partner BJP has opposed the Bill with its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi describing it as "recipe for disaster."<br /><br />Kumar, who is the driving force of the JD(U), insisted on political dialogue with the states before giving it shape of a law.<br /><br />"Consultation at executive level conducted by the Union Home Secretary with states is not sufficient. There should be political dialogue with the states before finalising the legislation if the Congress-led UPA is serious on the issue and not bringing it for discussion on the eve of the 2014 elections to derive political benefits," he said.<br /><br />The Bihar Chief Minister said there were talks for such a legislation for several years and many drafts were made, but nothing concrete happened.<br /><br />"Now that the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Accessto Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2013, has been cleared by the Union Cabinet for introduction in the Parliament, its a desired step," he said.<br /><br />Kumar said his party thinks if some state fails to stop communal violence, the Centre should declare it as a "disturbed area" and intervene directly. Besides, the victims should be given adequate compensation.<br /><br />Highlighting the seriousness of his government towards riots victims, he said after coming to power in 2005, a commission was set up in 2006 on the 1990 communal violence in Bhagalpur.<br /><br />Many cases were reopened and chargesheet submitted in the courts to nail the culprits, he said.<br /><br />For victims of Bhagalpur riots, the Bihar government doubled the life long pension to Rs 5000 a month recently, Kumar added. <br /></p>