by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
Lokmat Special
BJP MPs force Arm Act Bill Deferred
Minister Harsimrat Badal raised concerns
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, Dec 8
The Modi government buckled under the pressure of its own lawmakers and decided to dump the Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019 introduced with much fanfare in Lok Sabha last month end.
It transpires that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had brushed aside voices of concerns even in the crucial meeting of the Union Cabinet where the bill was brought for clearance. Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had pointed out that the certain clauses of the bill particularly relating to one license one fire arm be reconsidered. The PM wondered as to why one would need more than one firearm in self defense. Once the Cabinet cleared the bill, Union Home Ministry went ahead and bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on November 29. It was set to be passed the same day. But all hell broke and a large number of BJP MPs rushed to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla, pointing out that this will seriously affect the safety and security of people in trouble-torn states. The MPs belonging to the Rajput and landed community said that they are in possession of antique and precious firearms in their palatial bungalows mostly as show pieces for centuries. These should not be clubbed with the new policy.
The Bill seeks to amend the Arms Act, 1959 aimed at decreasing the number of licensed firearms allowed per person and increase penalties for certain offences under the Act. The Bill reduces the number of permitted firearms from three to one. This includes licenses given on inheritance or heirloom basis. The Bill provides a time period of one year to deposit the excess firearms with the nearest police station or the dealer as specified.
The Bill increases the punishment for offences between seven years and life imprisonment along with a fine. It also prohibits using firearms in a celebratory gunfire which endangers human life or personal safety of others.
It is learnt that a high-level meeting took place in the government and it was decided that let the Arm Act (Amendment ) Bill 2019 be deferred for this session.
