Modi pitches again for Gujarat's anti-terror bill, PC says No

New Delhi, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi yesterday made a fresh demand for its anti-terror bill GUJCOC to be cleared but the Centre said approval was not being given since the"present mind of Parliament"was opposed to some provisions of the controversial legislation.

"With great respect to (Gujarat chief minister) Narendra Modi, I say that the government of India and the president can give assent to a bill which reflects the last expression of the mind of the Parliament," Chidambaram told reporters at the end of a meeting with state chief ministers on internal security.

Chidambaram's comments came hours after Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi made a renewed pitch for clearing the Bill saying lack of adequate legal provisions was the"biggest"issue concerning internal security.

"Confession to a police officer are inadmissible. The parliament no longer approves a confession before a police officer. Similarly, Parliament no longer approves the idea that the public prosecutor's work must have greater weight than the judge's decision," he said.

Chidambaram said,"Parliament no longer approves that a person should be held without bail and without chargesheet for a longer period than the period stipulated in the CrPC".

"The present mind of Parliament was opposed to these three provisions. Therefore, how can I as Home Minister pilot a Bill which was passed by Parliament which does not have these three provisions," he said.

"They were specifically dropped from the law. They are no longer in the statute book and then recommend to the President a Bill which has these three provisions. I have to reflect the expression on mind of Parliament and I am reflecting the mind as last expressed by Parliament," he said.

Modi also praised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chidambaram for the Centre's handling of security issues.