Chennai

Ansari, while addressing the House on the demand on grants of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department, said, “There is no second thought that terrorists should be identified and eliminated, but the NIA is involved in targeting youth of a single community and the youth are branded as terrorists without completion of investigation.”

He also said that along with the NIA, the media is also branding them as terrorists and due to the branding the youth are facing several boycotts in the society. “Youth, who are branded as terrorists, but released later after the investigation, are not given houses and jobs and they face hurdles in their day-to-day lives,” said Ansari.

He further said that the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa too opposed the discriminatory nature of the NIA, but now Centre is trying to give more powers to the NIA through a legislation. The state government should oppose the move by the Centre, he said. IUML leader and Kadayanallur MLA Abu Backer also raised the same issue. He said that the NIA had brought a sense of fear among the minorities and if more powers are given, it will create panic. 

All the major opposition parties have raised their voice against the legislation when the ruling BJP government tried to move the NIA Bill and so the state too should write to Centre not to pass the bill, he noted.

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