RS passes NIA Bill, Opposition members fear for safety of minorities

Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi accuse each other's govts of playing politics on Samjhauta bomb blast issue

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed a Bill that gives more powers to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition Congress renewing their dispute over the issue of so called ‘saffron terror’ in the context of the Samjhauta Express blasts of 2007.

Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi accused each other’s governments of playing politics on the Samjhauta bomb blast issue.

While the opposition could not stand united to have the House refer the Bill to a select committee, several of its members flagged concerns about its