The Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) delegation on Monday urged Governor OP Kohli to disapprove anti-terror Bill passed in Gujarat Assembly on March 31. A delegation headed by GPCC president Bharatsinh Solanki and leader of Opposition in Gujarat Assembly Shankersinh Vaghela presented memorandum to the Governor urging him not to approve Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime (GCTOC) Bill. The Bill was passed despite strong protest and subsequent walkout by the Congress MlAs last week.
In the memorandum, the Congress expressed apprehension that the Bill would empower police to continue with the investigation for 180 days, as against the permitted 90 days. “The Bill will give power to the police to intercept telephone calls which violets fundamental rights of citizens and also breach Indian Telegraph Act,” said the memorandum.
In the meeting, Solanki said that after repealing POTA, the Centre had introduced Unlawful Activity Amendment Act 2004, which is adequate to fight against terrorism. The delegation also said when the Congress-led Maharashtra Government introduced Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), the Unlawful Activity Amendment Act was not brought in. The delegation also objected the word ‘terrorism’ to earlier GUJCOC Bill that was rejected twice by two different Presidents of India - APJ Abdul Kalam and Pratibha Patil.