22 March 2010 (ChristianToday): The All India Christian Council (aicc) has expressed apprehension over the Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, 2009, which it said needs a "serious re-write".

“In our memo of March 8, 2010, we told India’s government that we are pleased to see its desire to protect the idea of India – a secular government which promotes equality for all. But India’s Christian community has deep concerns about the Communal Violence Bill. We don’t want a weak Bill passed which would require the almost impossible process of securing future amendments,” said John Dayal, aicc Secretary General.

Dayal, who is also one of three Christian community leaders serving on the Government of India’s National Integration Council, said the Bill doesn’t adequately address hate speech and the “communalisation process” that produce communal violence.

The Bill’s goal is to outline specific ways to prevent and control violence between religious communities as well as rehabilitate victims. Media reports indicate the Prime Minister may introduce the Bill in the current Parliament session.

According to aicc, the Bill discusses “communally disturbed areas” but doesn’t clearly adjust for the demography of Christians. "Many minorities live in concentrated or contiguous areas and “communally disturbed areas” are more easily identified. But in Orissa, Kandhamal District would likely not fit the Bill’s definition, yet there were unprecedented anti-Christian riots there in 2007-2008.”

Additionally, it was also noted that the "Bill doesn’t give States strong enough guidelines on adequate reparations and compensation" and also "doesn’t address police and administrative impunity properly or adequately.”

Dayal said, “The root causes of communal violence may be illegal in some cases, but this needs reinforcement by the Bill. For example, hate speech is illegal but rarely pursued by authorities. Also, in the post-Kandhamal and post-Gujarat riots situation, it is clear that India needs a uniform national policy on the assessment of damages in order to prevent ghettoisation.”

The Council also wants to see the government revise existing laws or pass new legislation to deal with issues that will enhance justice for victims of religious violence.

These include establishing witness protection programs and guidelines, strengthening of National Commission for Minorities and State minority commissions, action against police who refuse to register FIRs, permanently debarring government officials guilty of involvement in communal violence from government jobs or contesting an elected office, and the rights of “internally displaced persons” in relief camps to follow UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. (By John Malhotra)