Indian government proposes replacement of British colonial-era sedition law with own version
While India gained freedom from Britain in 1947, its sedition law, which discourages acts against a government, never ended
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}India’s government proposed legislation Friday in Parliament that seeks to replace a British colonial-era sedition law with its own version.
The government also submitted a bill that it said would better protect women and children by providing greater punishments for sexual crimes.
Britain's rulers in India imposed a law against sedition — actions aimed at encouraging people to be or act against a government — in 1860 to repress freedom fighters. India won independence from the British colonialists in 1947, but continued to use the law.
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s critics accused his government of using sedition charges to label dissenting citizens as disloyal toward the country. A conviction carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Home Minister Amit Shah said Friday that the bill submitted to India's lawmakers would repeal the British offense of sedition and introduce a new provision.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Chitranshul Sinha, a legal expert, said the government's proposed provision would punish "acts endangering sovereignty unity and integrity of India." It carries prison sentence range of seven years to life.
A woman holds a placard protesting the abuse of sedition in Bangalore, India, on Feb. 4, 2020. India's government on Friday introduced a bill that seeks to replace the British colonial-era sedition law. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi, File)
"It doesn’t get rid of the British-era law. They (the government) have rearranged the provision,’’ Sinha said.
"It’s just a change of name. Essentially, nothing has changed," he said. said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The bill intended to protect women better would make sexual exploitation on the pretext of marriage, employment or promotion, or through the use of a hidden identity, a crime.
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The legislation would make a gang rape conviction punishable by a maximum life sentence. imprisonment. Raping a child would be eligible for a death sentence, the Press Trust of India news agency said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The bill also would allow penalties ranging from seven years in prison to death for mob lynching.
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"I can assure the House (Parliament) that these bills will transform our criminal justice system. Punishment will be given to create a sentiment of stopping crime," Shah said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The two houses of India's Parliament are expected to consider the two bills later this year.