Prez withholds assent to Gujarat anti-terror Bill

President Pratibha Patil has withheld her assent to the controversial Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Bill, 2003 (GUJCOC) following state government's refusal to make amendments to it.

President Pratibha Patil has withheld her assent to the controversial Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Bill, 2003 (GUJCOC) following state government's refusal to make amendments to it.

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"The President has withheld her assent from the Bill on January 22, 2012 as the state government had not made any amendments in clauses 16 and 20 in the said Bill as per the directives contained in Presidential message to the earlier bill.

"The same has been conveyed to the Secretary to the Governor, Gujarat on February 2, 2012," minister of state for home Mullappally Ramachandran told Lok Sabha today.

The Minister said the Gujarat government has re-submitted the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Bill, 2003, as passed by the State Legislature and reserved by the Gujarat Governor for consideration of the President, which was received in the Home Ministry on November 11, 2009.

The controversial anti-terror Bill GUJCOCA has been vigorously pursued by Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

The proposed law was earlier rejected by the Centre on the ground that it was not in line with its new legislation dealing with terrorism like Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act.