House passes UPCOCA; Oppn stages walkout

LUCKNOW: The UP Assembly on Monday passed the Uttar Pradesh Control of Organised Crime Bill amidst protest by the opposition parties and walkout by the BJP and the Samajwadi Party, who said that it is aimed at settling political scores rather than eliminating criminal activities.

UPCOCA provides for capital punishment for the offenders and is aimed at curbing organised crime, mafia, land grabbing, kidnapping, criminal activities to grab government contracts, money laundering and other criminal acts. The government refuted fears of misuse of UPCOCA and said that the new law would bring mafia and criminals to book.

Parliamentary affairs minister Lalji Verma said that there are enough safeguards to prevent any likely misuse of UPCOCA and the opposition was only protesting to gain political mileage. He said that chief minister Mayawati had promised to improve the law and order situation and curb criminal activities during the run up to the Assembly elections and UPCOCA would help in achieving the task.

Former chief minister and leader of opposition Mulayam Singh Yadav said that the new law was aimed at implicating opposition leaders in false casses and the common man would also face harassment through it.BJP leader Hukum Singh said that 76 ammendments have been made in the Bill since it was tabled on October 31, which showed that the Bill was not drafted carefully and the government was in a hurry to get it passed.

He also said that the Bill did not incorporate terrorist activities which again pointed towards the lack of focus on part of the government. Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said that the new law was against the Constitution and was likely to be challenged before the court.

The Bill was passed by the House after the walkout by SP, BJP and Rashtriya Lok Dal members, though the Congress did not stage a walkout. Under UPCOCA-2007, the government will set up an authority and special courts for day to day hearing of casses.