Parliament proceedings | In Rajya Sabha, Opposition members question government on low conviction rate in UAPA cases

Opposition members on Wednesday questioned the government in Rajya Sabha on the abysmally low conviction rate in cases registered under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed the Upper House that according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), in the years 2018, 2019 and 2020, as many as 4,690 people were arrested under the anti-terror law and 149 people were convicted during the same period.

CPI’s Sandosh Kumar P said the reply given by the Minister was a clear indicator of the misuse and failure of the draconian law. He said most arrested persons belong to the 18-30 age group and asked whether the government like to repeal the draconian act in the 75th year of Independence of the country.

Mr. Rai replied there was a need to understand the law. It was first introduced in 1967 and has been amended four times to make it stringent according to the circumstances. He said the Narendra Modi government has zero tolerance for terrorism.

Mr. Kumar asked the Minister to define the term “terrorist” as it was ambiguous and said that the act was a serious menace to Dalits and minorities. Mr. Rai said data is not maintained along religious lines and anyone who affects the integrity and sovereignty of the country is a terrorist. He said that both States and Centre can register cases under the law.