The Modi government since day one has adopted a zero-tolerance policy regarding terrorism. And progressing further in the direction the BJP led central government has begun its crackdown on terror funding too with the introduction of the Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha.
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Government introduces bill to ban funding
On Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar introduced a Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha that seeks to ban funding. The bill named Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill seeks to ban the financing of weapons of mass destruction.
IF the bill becomes legislation, it will empower the Centre to freeze, seize or attach financial assets and economic resources of people involved in the funding of weapons of mass destruction.
This bill seeks to amend the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, passed in 2005. The 2005 act only banned the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction and was not applicable to the funding or financing of such weapons.
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The Bill seeks to make an insertion in the existing Act after section 12: “No person shall finance any activity which is prohibited under this Act, or under the United Nations (Security Council) Act, 1947 or any other relevant Act for the time being in force, or by an order issued under any such Act, in relation to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.”
The International Angle in the amendment
The amendment suggested to the 2005 Act, also seeks to fulfill India’s international obligations. The amendment bill moved by External Affairs Minister S.Jaishankar seeks to amend the 2005 act in accordance with the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the United Nations Security Council’s targeted financial sanctions.
Jaishankar noted that the United Nations Security Council advocates for targeted financial sanctions. He also sought the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force, which has mandated against the financing and proliferation of mass destructions and their delivery systems.
External Affairs Minister while presenting the Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill said, “In view of the above, there is a need to amend the said Act to provide against the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems so as to fulfill our international obligations.”
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The Bill seeks to insert a new Section 12A in the existing law which states that “no person shall finance any activity which is prohibited under this Act, or under the United Nations (Security Council) Act, 1947 or any other relevant Act for the time being in force, or by an order issued under any such Act, in relation to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.”
It also aims to give the government the powers to “freeze, seize or attach funds or other financial assets or economic resources owned or controlled, wholly or jointly, directly or indirectly, by such person; or held by or on behalf of, or at the direction of, such person; or derived or generated from the funds or other assets owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such person”.