The Madhya Pradesh Assembly on Thursday passed a stringent law that provides for capital punishment when terror attacks,disruptive activities and organised crimes result in death. The Madhya Pradesh Terrorism and Disruptive Activities and Control of Organised Crimes Bill,2010,was passed amid protests by the Opposition,which tore copies of the Bill and shouted slogans like kala kanun vapas lo. When the Opposition pressed for division,61 ruling party members voted in favour of the Bill while 26 Opposition legislators voted against it. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan later said,Terrorists are neither Hindus nor Muslims. They are not even human beings. He was replying to the Oppositions allegation that the legislation will be used selectively against some communities. He said he was hopeful of getting the Centres nod for the Bill. The Bill provides for life sentence when victims survive and has strict provisions for those harbouring terrorists and providing financial assistance. The legislation insists that government officials,departments,banks and firms are bound to comply if the investigation officer seeks information from them in a prescribed manner.
