RAJYA SABHA ______SUPPLEMENT TO SYNOPSIS OF DEBATE ______(Proceedings other than Questions and Answers) ______Thursday, August 1, 2019 / Shravana 10, 1941 (Saka) ______GOVERNMENT BILL THE NATIONAL MEDICAL COMMISSION BILL, 2019-Contd. THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD): The Government was making some tall claims about their past five year period. They said that the number of under- graduate doctors, that means M.B.B.S. doctors, had increased by 28,000 in these five years and the number of post-graduates had increased by 18,000. But, according to me, the number of doctors, under-graduate doctors, by now should have been 40,000 in five years. And, the number of post-graduate doctors, in five years, should have been 25,000. So, it has come down. It was in the previous Government wherein I had the opportunity to be the Health Minister, we brought sweeping changes in the Medical Council Act. And, large number of administrative decisions, to increase the infrastructure and to increase the human resource, were taken. I took a policy decision that all those medical colleges in Government sector whose seats had not been increased for the past 20 consecutive years, their seats would be doubled by the Ministry of Health. As a result of that decision 4,000 seats were increased. Then, another decision was taken, which was again an Executive decision, in consultation with the Medical ______

 This Synopsis is not an authoritative record of the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha. 936

Council. So, we made a change that if a private or a Government medical college had surplus infrastructure and surplus human resources, the cap was increased from 150 to 250. As a result of that decision a few thousand seats were increased. We changed the student-teacher ratio to 1:2 and 1:3. As a result of that decision, 100 per cent post-graduate seats were increased in all the streams, and in some streams, 300 per cent seats were increased. In addition to that, there were two other decisions. All those boys and girls, who were doing PG in the United States of America and other countries, their degrees were not recognised. We took a decision to recognise the degrees of five English-speaking countries. There was another decision to increase the number of PG seats both in Government and private colleges. It was for the new colleges. Earlier the situation was that they could take the PG seats only after the first batch had completed the MBBS. But, we said that colleges need not wait for that because the PG teachers are different from under-graduate teachers. So, keeping all these decisions in mind, in five years, this number should not have been 18000, but, it should have been 30000 by now. It is being said that this is the first Government which has introduced NEET. Actually, it is being implemented since the year 2013. It has been claimed that the competence-based curriculum has been worked out by this Government. I would like to request that this curriculum was created by the reconstituted Medical Council of India, in the year 2014. It is also being said that this Government has introduced the registration of doctors by the State Medical Council. The State Medical Councils and State Medical Registers are defined in the year 1956 in the Indian Medical Council Act. The representatives of the States are only six, due to which, the States will get their turn after 12 years. The representation of the Medical Council from the States is five, due to which, the State Medical Council will get their turn after 14 years. So, my submission is that the representation of the States in the NMC should be increased from six to ten, and the representation of the State Medical Council should be increased from five to nine, so that, maybe after four years they can get their turns. Our aim is to produce efficient doctors. But many earlier provisions which were essential for maintaining quality in medical profession have been done away with. Take the Exit Test if a person does not come in the merit list for PG, or he fails the Exit exam, whether he fails for the PG or he fails for MBBS degree also or his licence also goes. I would 937 request Hon. Minister to clarify this most important issue. Next issue is about termination of permanent employees, the Bill speaks about compensation not exceeding three months salary. Their termination is violative of article 21 of the Constitution. By compromising these provisions you are playing with the lives of 70 percent population of the country. The persons like assistant or a clerk with some basic knowledge who are only helping doctors will be given a bridge course and they would become a doctor. This is like risking the lives of the people. There was this course Bachelor of Science (Community Health) approved by the Cabinet in the meeting held on 13th November, 2013. The duration was three and half years. The course was proposed to be introduced to create mid-level health professionals who would posses necessary public health and ambulatory care competencies to serve rural people. It was accredited by NBE and approved by Medical Council of India. It is now being replaced by this. Now somebody doing basic help to a doctor will be given six month training and he would become a doctor. I have strong objection to this. SHRI KANAKAMEDALA RAVINDRA KUMAR: The Bill provides an elaborate set-up for complete Central Government control over this area. Representatives from States and Nominated members will get their subsequent tenure only after twelve years. The same is fourteen years for medical professionals. But Nominees of the Central Government are permanent. It provides a Medical Advisory Council which has only advisory role and four autonomous Boards. President of the Boards will be the members of National Medical Commission automatically and Commission itself is the appellate body. Now the President of respective Boards as members of NMC will become appellate court for orders passed by themselves. It is against the law. National Medical Commission would determine fee of fifty percent seats and conducting three exams. This would harm the students. The Bill will bring monopoly of the Central Government. All State Governments should have representation in National Medical Council. SHRI JOSE K. MANI: Clause 32 of NMC Bill provides for licensing of 3.5 lakh unqualified non-medical persons to practise modern medicine. The term community health providers has been vaguely defined. This law encourages quackery and puts the lives of 938 ordinary people in danger. The Bill says final MBBS exam would be common for all. Nowhere it provides the scheme of the exam. This bill will create half-trained medical graduates. Another apprehension is about role of medical universities, they will become mere rubber stamps under NMC. This Bill makes medicine a bureaucratic institution as all 25 members are nominated by Central Government. In the Bill only five states will be represented in the NMC at a time. This is against the federal structure of our Constitution. DR. D.P. VATS: The Bill is student-friendly. They do not have to appear in many exams. Through one exam they will qualify for many institutes as per their merit. By taking a single test you qualify for license to practice medicine, you qualify as a medical graduate also. If you come in merit you qualify for PG also. There is also provision for improvement in merit. The same common exam would be taken by foreign students. Only 20 to 30 percent of foreign students would qualify. There is no lowering of standard. Final MBBS exam will include practical, clinical and theoretical aspects. All modalities will be finalized by involving all the stakeholders. It is only a transition from MCI to NMC. MCI is not working well as pointed out twice by Supreme Court and High Court called it den of corruption. MCI inspects and all of a sudden cancels the recognition leaving the students in the lurch. Despite having good infrastructure medical college had to be closed. Now still States are involved. It is not anti-federal. I still say Boards are there, they will formalize the modalities for its conduct. SHRI BINOY VISWAM: Medical Council was full of corruption. They are bringing National Medical Commission to replace it. It will bring more corruption. A large number of Medical colleges have mushroomed all over the country. They are factories that produce doctors. Now in NMC Bill 50 percent of the seats are for those factories which produce quacks. So this Government believes in quackery, not nationalism. This Bill brings a too much centralized form of governance. Everything at every level will be decided by the Central Government alone. What will happen to the staff of Medical Council who have been working there for 15 to 20 years. Their future has to be guaranteed.

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SHRIMATI ROOPA GANGULY: Medical Council of India is full of corruption. The relatives of Ministers are occupying important posts in the Medical Organisations. They issue fake medical certificates. In remote rural places no MBBS goes, only quacks go and provide treatment in odd hours. Then what is wrong in giving them certification. The Commission would issue certificates after looking into their capabilities. I request Hon'ble Minister to make arrangements for issue of these certificates in regional languages also. This certification will help in detecting the disease early and provide primary and urgent healthcare. Some members concerned about State power. But many states need Central power. In West Bengal nursing training is not applicable under NSDC. They have to appear again in a different examination. I request the hon'ble Minister to provide the statement in regional languages. I welcome the power of Central Government to supersede the Commission. THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE): Persons from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes also become doctors in medical colleges, who may have obtained some marks lesser than others in entrance examination for admission but for passing the examination to get medical degree, they have to obtain equal marks like other candidates of general category. But, during their study, they have to face discrimination in medical colleges and succumbing to such injustice, Dr. Payal Tadvi commited suicide. There is a need to consider on this issue as well through the Medical Council. This Medical Commission Bill has been brought to prevent cases of corruption in Indian Medical Council. I support this Bill and expect from all to support this Bill. We will improve the health sector. If health is improved, it will help in improving the country. THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE, THE MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND THE MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN), replying to the discussion, said: I heard everybody with rapt attention. I wish to thank everybody for expressing their concerns over the medical education in the country. There are still some misgivings about NEET and NEXT. So, I thought of making it clear first. NEET is an institutionalized mechanism. It has 940 been successfully accepted and received by the aspiring doctors. It is executed in thirteen languages and the syllabus for the examination takes into consideration the syllabus of various Boards. There is a process of improvement in NEET. This is the new version after the previous versions. Every institution, including AIIMS and all the institutions of national importance, will be the part of NEET. About the NEXT examination, it is basically the final year examination of all the MBBS students, of all institutions, all over the country. There will be one examination for all the MBBS students and they will have to pass the final year examination in their colleges, which will have both the theory part and practical part. The theory part is designed in such a way that in an objective manner it also tests the clinical acumen. So, for a student, to actually become an MBBS doctor, he has to pass the theory examination as well as the clinical examination. After completing his internship, he gets his degree. For the theory examination marks, he becomes eligible for getting admission into a PG course. With that, he passes his MBBS. He is getting a license to practice after completing his internship. He also, automatically, based on his merit, gets entrance into a PG course. The concept of mid-level health workers prevails in the whole world including America, England and Australia. This is an official concept, which has been described in WHO journals. It is being implemented in many developed countries of the whole world. Its definition has also been given in Lancet. Mid-level health workers could also be equally competent. But, fact of the matter is that nothing has been mentioned about community health providers in this Bill. It will take time. For now, the NMC will be constituted within 9 months. After that, the NMC will implement the Exit exam, which is the next level examination. There are 21 doctors in the NMC out of its total strength of 25. They will decide after public consultations and taking inputs from medical professionals. So, whatever has been said about community health providers is not correct. In no way it is promoting quackery. We have actually made the provisions of penalty for quackery more stringent in this Bill. We have provided for imprisonment of one year and fine of Rs. Five Lakh, which was earlier nominal under the MCI. Secondly, I wish to make it clear that our of total 80 thousand seats of MBBS in the country, around 40 thousand seats are under the Government system and 40 thousand seats are in private colleges. Fees in government medical colleges are nominal, as 941 we already know. But, there was no provision to regulate or cap the fee on any single seat of private colleges under the earlier MCI. But, now our Government has decided to regulate these 50 % seats of private colleges. These seats will be capped and the range of minimum and maximum fee would be provided under the rules. Medical Education is a subject of Concurrent List. To regulate the 50% seats under private sector, an MoU with respective medical colleges will be entered into. This regulation has been brought for the first time. The third point which has been raised here is regarding the representation of states in the NMC. There are 11 representatives from states among 25 members of the NMC. In the MNC, 5 representatives are from Medical Councils and 6 are Vice Chancellors. Besides them, one representative of states is in each of the autonomous bodies. Hence, total representation from states is 15. Moreover, in the Search Committee under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary, one representative would be from states. Thus, there would be 16 representatives from states. We have brought an amendment from the Government that now there will be nine members in place of five in the State Medical Council and similarly, from the universities of states, now 10 representatives would be included in place of 6 representatives. Clause 45 of the Bill gives powers to the Central Government to give directions on policy matters to NMC and autonomous boards. The Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 also had a similar provision in Section 3(6). This is as per standard clauses in all other Acts for setting up various regulators. There is nothing abnormal in this. Clause 46 of the Bill empowers the Central Government to give directions to State Governments for carrying out the provisions of the Act. This clause has been examined and cleared by the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee in its 109th Report. We have implemented all of your good ideas very dynamically. You have asked to make the NEET counseling completely transparent. There cannot be two opinions about it. There is a Medical Counseling Cell in DGHS, which hosts complete information on its website. Everything is transparent. If there is lack of transparency anywhere, we will try to further strengthen. You have also raised about vacant seats in private medical colleges. I want to tell that the number of seats left vacant at the end of counselling is coming down each year now. The National Medical Commission Bill will be remembered as a big reform of the Narendra Modi 942

Government and by passing this Bill, you would create a history which would be written in golden letters. I request you all to pass the Bill unanimously and create a new history of Medical Education for the country. I have always fought for preserving and protecting the integrity of the medical profession. This Bill would bring a qualitative and quantitative change which would be perceived and measured in the years to come. Employees, affected due to this legislation, will adequately be compensated. We will look at their issues with compassion and try to find out an acceptable solution through consultative process. The motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted. Clauses etc., as amended, were adopted. The Bill, as amended, was passed. ______GOVERNMENT BILL The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019 THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY): I move that the Bill further to amend the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, as passed by Lok Sabha, be taken into consideration. Shri Elamaram Kareem, Shri Binoy Viswam, Shri Vaiko, Shri K.K. Ragesh and Shri Tiruchi Siva moved amendment for reference of the Bill the Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha. SHRI PRABHAT JHA: Our country has been fighting terrorism for several years. All people have suffered due to terrorism. We all should take it seriously. In the last 5 years, the Prime Minister of India has attracted the attention of the whole world on every stage of the world towards this problem. This is the reason why Pakistan is completely isolated in the world today. Due to terrorism, there has been a loss of 55 lakh crore rupees in the last 18 years. This is not a normal thing. Due to terrorism, the damage to the economy in 2014 had reached $ 108 billion, or 7.52 lakh crore rupees. Whenever we talk of terrorism, it is linked to minorityism - it should not be so. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam also explicitly said that the biggest disease in this country is terrorism. To crush terrorism, the strict law should be made. 943

This bill has been brought to crush terrorism. There have been numerous terrorist attacks on this country. The Mumbai serial blasts took place on May 12, 1993. India has witnessed many terrorist attacks, whether it is case of Badam Bagh of Srinagar, Jammu- Kashmir Legislative Assembly or the Indian Parliament, all these places were attacked by the terrorists. There are many other incidents also. We have lost our Jawans in such terrorist attacks. Terrorism do not have any religion. Today everyone is convinced that terrorism can only be controlled by this Ministry of Home Affairs and under the leadership of present Home Minister. There is provision of certain laws in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019 have certain provisions. It says that those who are financially and ideologically assisting the terrorists and those who promote the principle of terrorism will also be declared as terrorists. Everybody wants to fight against terrorism. Nobody has opposed our action against terrorism. A terrorist incident took place in Pulwama and it was answered by a surgical strike. To combat terrorism, there is a need of stringent legislation and it is being made today through this Bill. I want to congratulate the Home Minister. Investigation rights are given to the officer of inspector rank of N.I.A. so far as terrorism is concerned. It is very necessary for N.I.A. to become more powerful. For the first time, no such incident has taken place in Amarnath Yatra and its credit goes to the Ministry of Home Affairs of India. Terrorism is the problem of whole of the nation. In absence of any provision for declaring individual terrorists under the anti- terrorism law, members of the banned terrorist organizations form a new organization. But now such person will be caught and this will curb the terrorism. Modi ji has got everybody's support against terrorism on every platform in the world. During the last five years, our government has made constant efforts to curb the terrorism across the country. We have dealt with Pakistan firmly and effectively, especially in state-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the prevailing law, no officer, below the DSP or equivalent rank, is authorized to investigate the crimes. NIA does not have a large force that is why provision of officer of DSP level has been made. This amendment is in the interest of India. I am convinced that we all will support it unanimously.

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SHRI KAPIL SIBAL: If this Bill is not referred to the Select Committee, then I will oppose this Bill. We are all committed to curb the terrorism. The 'Tada' law was brought by us. When Parliament was attacked, then you brought 'POTA' law. Before 1967, there was no provision of 'sovereignty and integrity of India' in 19 (2), 19 (3) and 19 (4). In the past, laws like "TADA" and "POTA" were misused. That's why they were ended. Figures show that there has been gross misuse of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 also. The law should be there, but there should be such provisions therein so that people should not stay in jail unnecessarily for long. We oppose terrorism, but at the same time, we should also know what the ground reality is. There are controversial provisions in this Bill, so it should be sent to a Select Committee or a Standing Committee. According to this Bill, a person can be declared a terrorist by issuing a notification but it is not clear in this Bill that at which stage of prosecution and on which grounds he will be declared as a terrorist. There is every possibility of misuse of this law. There was no need to bring this Bill because the existing NIA Act is adequately competent. I have no objection to the amendment to confiscate the property through the approval of the Director General. SHRI SUKHENDU SEKHAR RAY: I rise to oppose this Bill. I wonder what was the need to bring this amendment because the present UAPA has all required provisions. It is a potentially dangerous Amendment Bill, which empowers the officials of the Union Government to declare a person a terrorist without following the due process of law. On being declared as a terrorist, life of a person will be vulnerable to mob-lynching and the other elements who are nowadays playing a very dominant role in our society. It will be heavily misused for targeting political opponents. Lives of innocent people will be ruined in jails unnecessarily. I think this law will also have to be withdrawn one day, because it will also be declared unconstitutional in a court. PROF. RAM GOPAL YADAV: The great scientist Albert Einstein had said that everything is relative. Everyone is against terrorism but like Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, many laws were enacted and all of them were misused. That is why there is a apprehension about its misuse also. This is direct attack on fundamental rights. On the basis of suspicion even courts absolve the 945 accused under 302 but here on the basis of suspicion you are going to declare a person terrorist. Unlawful activities must be clearly defined. Freedom of Speech and Expression, Freedom to assemble peacefully and without arms; Freedom to form unions and associations are the fundamental rights under Article 19. But if we agitate against district administration, it is termed as unlawful activity and a particular act is invoked. So kindly define unlawful activity. People of the country have experienced that whenever strict laws have been enacted, there have been misuses. Please clearly define terrorism so that there remains no scope for ambiguity. Suppose some educated people raise their voice against violation of fundamental rights, will they become terrorist? SHRI S. MUTHUKARUPPAN: The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 was enacted to provide for more effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of individuals and associations and for dealing with terrorist activities and for matters connected therewith. The said Act has been amended in the years 2004, 2008 and 2013 to add certain provisions to this Act. Further, the reason for this Act is that the Security Council of the United Nations require the States to take action against certain terrorists and terrorist organizations. Terrorism is defined in Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. There are many stringent provisions of this Act. Now, I am coming to the Bill. Under the Act, the Central Government may designate an organization as a terrorist organization, if it commits or participates in acts of terrorism; prepares for terrorism; promotes terrorism or is otherwise involved in terrorism. The Bill additionally empowers the Government to designate individuals. This Bill adds that if the investigation is conducted by an officer of the National Investigation Agency, the approval of the Director General of National Investigating Agency would be required for seizure of such property. Bill empowers the officers of the National Investigating Agency of the rank of Inspector or above to investigate the case. Act defines terrorist acts to include acts committed within the scope of any of the treaties listed in the Schedule to the Act. The Schedule lists nine treaties. Bill adds another treaty to the list. These are all the important amendments of this existing Act. The reasons for this Bill is that the Bill document states that the National Investigation Agency currently faces many difficulties in the process of investigation and prosecution of terrorism-related cases. The amendment would give powers to the 946

National Investigation Agency. Further, the amendment of Act will allow the National Investigation Agency to designate an individual suspected to have terror links 'a terrorist'. To control terrorism in our country, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and National Investigation Agency are essential. I welcome this Bill on behalf of my party, AIADMK and support this Bill. SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR: I would like to suggest that NIAs should be given so much powers that they may be able to work like America's FBI. For this, some amendments should be made in the IPC to identify certain crimes which should be investigated by the NIA only. Integrating all institutions like IB, CBI, Narcotics Bureau etc., its jurisdiction and scope of work should be extended. Therefore, I will request that actions should be taken to achieve this target by forming a committee by a ministerial group. I would also like that the justice system be strengthened and justice is provided within a fixed time frame. SHRI PRASANNA ACHARYA: My Party and I support this Bill. We are not in a position to declare an individual, either he is Hafiz Saeed or Masood Azhar, as a terrorist. And with begging hand, we are standing before the United Nations, China and other countries to designate this particular man as a terrorist. Therefore, the hon. Home Minister has brought the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019 at the very appropriate time. Some people have their doubts about the use or misuse of this law. It is natural, when there have been records, precedents, history in this country, that such laws, have been misused for political ends. My sincere appeal to this Government will be not to commit the mistake which the predecessors have committed. Many times, innocent people are put behind bars for two years, four years, ten years, twenty years and after that they are acquitted by the court! So, the Government has to be very careful about all these things. We have to deal with nuclear terrorism also. It is a timely Amendment the Government has brought to empower the agencies. SHRI VAIKO: This day is a memorable day in the 55 years of my public life as it happens to be the maiden speech in this august House after 23 years. I owe my gratitude to Dr. Kalaignar and Shri Murasoli Maran, and to Thalapathi Stalin. This Bill, which I oppose vehemently, is to strangulate the voice of the minorities, the voice of 947 the freedom loving people. Whoever comes to power, when they are in Opposition, they oppose the draconian provisions. The great Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru opposed the Preventive Detention Act of the British Raj, but when they came to power, they used the same Preventive Detention Act. The great late Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji welcomed Madam Indira Gandhi as the Durga of India, but what happened? On the dead night of 25th June, democracy was murdered in this country. All the leaders, were arrested. I myself, along with 500 cadres, was detained under MISA. When Madam Indira Gandhi came back as the Prime Minister of India, they did not learn the lesson which they got previously. They brought the TADA. My own blood brother, Shri Ravichandran, was arrested under the TADA. Again, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee treated me like his son. But, when they wanted to bring POTA, myself and Shri Murasoli Maran opposed it at the NDA meeting. I was the only Member of Parliament who was put behind bars under POTA for nineteen months by Jayalalitha Government. Sir, I filed a Writ Petition from jail before the Supreme Court asking, ‘Giving support to a banned organization – LTTE – is crime and will it come under the purview of the POTA?’ The Judge gave the verdict that a mere speech supporting a banned organization like LTTE will not come under the purview of Section 21 of the POTA. Under the sedition law, the great Balgangadhar Tilak was sentenced for six years imprisonment. Mahatma Gandhi was sentenced under Section 124A - - sedition law. Sir, you will be shocked to know, I was convicted under Section 124A. I am not a killer. But, giving support to LTTE and Eelam, I was branded as a traitor of this country. Sir, today, the Unlawful Activities (Amendment) Bill, 2019, is before us. This Bill would empower the Government to designate individuals as terrorists, among other changes. Hon. Home Minister, Shri Amit Shahji, had said in the Lok Sabha, during the discussion on the Bill, ‘When you have fear in your mind, what can I do?’ But, who is feared and for what reason? Kalburgi was killed; Narendra Dhabolkar was killed; Govind Pansare was killed; Gauri Lankesh was killed. Such anti- terror legislations should not be misused to garget human rights defenders, religious minorities who already have been facing discrimination and reprisals. The Bill should be seen in conjunction

948 with the recently passed National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019. When biased and selective approach is being followed by the NIA, why should we give more powers to it? I was booked in two cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. When I challenged the invoking of UAPA before the Madras High Court, the entire charge-sheet was quashed. Thus, I am a standing example of misuse of the MISA, the TADA, the POTA and the UAPA. I oppose the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill 2019 for the following reasons: One, it targets individuals by calling him ‘terrorist’ by the unilateral act of including his name in the Fourth Schedule. It is highly undemocratic and unconstitutional; in that, the freedom of human being is curtailed. Secondly, this Amendment Bill empowers only the police officer, not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police. Thirdly, this Amendment Bill is bringing a fear in the minds of nation that the nation is under constant threat, both from inside and outside the nation. The present Central Government is usurping the powers of the State Governments by taking the right of the investigation unto themselves. This country should be called United States of India. By the policy of ‘One Nation’, being adopted by this Government, I apprehend that the unity of India will be endangered. The proposed Amendment is totally unwarranted, as there are sufficient laws in force. Therefore, I request the House to reject the Bill if it is not referred to the Select Committee for a detailed study. . SHRI B. LINGAIAH YADAV: I want to convey the opinion of my party on The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2019. It is not about political parties or who was in power earlier and who was in opposition earlier. I want to convey once again that, it is our responsibility to eradicate terrorism in this country. On many occasions my party and our leader Shri K. Chandrashekar Rao have condemned the terrorist incidents and the terrorist groups responsible for these activities. The primary objective is that the country has to develop. There is a need not only to eradicate the larger terrorist organizations but also the individuals responsible for terrorism. I want to request that, few provisions made in the Bill

______. Spoke in Telugu.

949 will nullify some powers of the State Governments and hence they need to reconsidered. When we insist on Cooperative Federalism, we should understand that ignoring the rights of the States will cause inconvenience to the State Governments. If there is any delay by the State Governments, please fix a time limit and the States will adhere to it. I urge the Central Government that this Bill should not be used against individuals and organizations for political vendetta. I support this Bill. Discussion not concluded.

Desh Deepak Verma, Secretary-General. [email protected]

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ERRATA TO THE SUPPLEMENT TO SYNOPSIS OF DEBATE DATED 31st JULY, 2019 AND SYNOPSIS OF DEBATE DATED 1st AUGUST, 2019

Page No. Line No. Correction

893 34 Add "in the policy" after "stated".

907 6 Read ''Amendment'' for ''Amendmenst''.

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