Thaindian News

Chennai, July 29 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa Friday termed the proposed Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2011, as “undemocratic and fascist”.

In a statement issued here, Jayalalithaa said the bill can be used by the union government to dismiss duly elected state governments.

“If this bill becomes law, one could well have a situation where members of political parties in power at the centre could conspire to create a volatile situation in a state that is governed by an opposition party,” she said.

“If the agitators are put down, the state government concerned would be pilloried for stifling dissent. On the other hand, if the violence erupts, it can be dubbed as communal and/or targeted violence and the state government concerned can be dismissed using the sweeping and wholly subjective provisions of the law,” she added.

She said the purpose of the proposed law is unstated and many of the offences to be covered by the proposed law are left to the subjective interpretation of the authorities concerned and are open to gross misuse.

According to her, even a casual reading of the bill shows that there is more to it than meets the eye.

Jayalalithaa said the proposed bill will not even remotely achieve the desired objective but, on the other hand, only promote distrust among various groups.

The proposed bill provides the authorities with opportunities to vent their frustration on vulnerable persons or wreak vengeance against any group that is outspoken or critical, she remarked.

Detailing various provisions of the proposed law, Jayalalithaa said the bill is an attempt to bypass the state government, and it was brought in by a central government that is running out of steam and ideas for survival.