‘I will read Macron’s bill about Islamic Extremism,’ Ravi Shankar Prasad drops a bombshell

France’s lower house of Parliament overwhelmingly passed the pathbreaking “anti-radicalism bill” to counter the escalatory menace of Islamist extremism and terrorism in the country. The bill, which is a brainchild of President Emmanuel Macron will be tabled in the Conservative-controlled upper house after March 30 and is expected to sail through there as well. Meanwhile, countries around the world are looking up to France, which has battled Islamism for years now. India is one of those countries in which demands for similar legislation are gathering steam. Meanwhile the country’s Union Law Minister – Ravi Shankar Prasad has dropped in a big hint.

Speaking to Zee News, Ravi Shankar Prasad said that he would study Macron’s anti-radicalism bill passed in France, and would then answer questions about whether a similar legislation will be brought in India as well. Zee News had asked a pointed question to the Law Minister, over whether such a legislation will be brought in by India too.

As Law Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad leads frame-working of legislations before them being tabled in the country’s parliament. The fact, that he has said that Macron’s anti-radicalism bill will be studied by him, is a big hint of the Modi government also working on similar lines.

France and India are steadfast allies. Paris, under the leadership of Macron, in recent years, has stood by India on all issues. New Delhi too has made it a point to support France in all its endeavours. For both the countries, Islamist extremism and terrorism have always been headaches which simply do not fade away. As such, both countries and their governments have realised that the fight against both domestic and international terrorism will have to be taken head-on. Pussyfooting around the menace will lead the countries and their people nowhere, but will only end up aiding terrorism.

As such, France under Macron is leading the global world order in the fight against terrorism. Being an unparalleled ally for India, New Delhi will most likely join in with legislation on similar lines to curb religious extremism. The bill passed by France deals comprehensively with the menace of radicalism and seeks to curb terrorism in its nascent stage itself. The bill bans wearing of hijab by Muslim women in public and private spaces. It also mandates Muslim children to compulsorily be sent to school after the age of three.

Read more: Macron’s campaign to free France of radical Islam is a model for other countries to follow

As per Macron’s bill, mosques and madrasas will now fall under the stringent eyes of law enforcing agencies and must be used only as places of worship. Online hate being spread by Islamists will invite a three-year jail term and a fine of 45,000 euros. The proposed bill will also make it illegal for doctors to give virginity certificates to females, making it punishable by up to one year of imprisonment and 15,000 euros fine.

It is obvious that India has a far more pervasive problem of Islamist extremism. There is hardly any corner of our country which has not been a victim of terrorism. As such, it is only natural for Indians to join the chorus of having an anti-radicalism bill, much-like Macron’s, enforced in the country too. The approach of tackling terrorists when they become violent is a wrong approach. Terrorism must be nipped in the bud, right at its nascent stage. For that, an anti-radicalism bill in India too, is a prerequisite.