Govt to introduce Communal Violence Bill soon: Chidambaram

The much-awaited Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation) Bill is soon to be introduced by the Centre, said Home Minister P Chidambaram.

Speaking at a function in Tamil Nadu, Chidambaram said the Bill would be immediately brought by the government in order to prevent violence in the name of caste and religion.

The Bill outlines specific ways to prevent and control violence between religious communities as well as rehabilitate victims.

Chidambaram said Congress president Sonia Gandhi had asked to make it tougher for people instigating violence. The draft Bill would be ready soon with the changes.

Chidambaram lamented over continuation of caste and communal violence even after several decades of Independence.

According to the Union minister, the Bill would make it easy for law officials to take strict actions against those indulging in violence in the name of religion.

Last year, after several deliberations on the Bill, the Church had prepared a draft copy with its suggestions and requests.

"The consultations among Christian groups stress that the thrust of the Bill should shift from control to prevention," Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes, the Secretary General of CBCI, had said.

He added: "The ultimate aim is not mere controlling of communal violence and rehabilitation of the victims but prevention of future occurrences of communal violence."