Delhi To Be Under National Security Act For 3 Months, LG Gives Police Emergency Detention Power

Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Friday granted power of detaining authority to the Delhi Police Commissioner under the National Security Act, according to a notification. The Act allows preventive detention of an individual for months if the authorities feel that the individual is a threat to the national security, and law and order.

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of section 3, read with clause (c) of Section 2 of the National Security Act, 1980, the Lt Governor pleased to direct that during the period January 19 to April 18, the Delhi Police Commissioner may also exercise the powers of detaining authority under sub-section (2) of the section 3 of the aforesaid Act, the notification stated.

The notification has been issued on January 10 following the approval of the LG.

The Act comes amid growing protest in the national capital against the new citizenship law. However, the Delhi Police said it is a routine order that has been issued in every quarter and has nothing to do with the current situation.

Violence in Delhi

The national capital witnessed some of the most violent protests against the CAA in December last year. From Seemapuri to Delhi Gate to Jamia, violent clashes were reported in various areas of the national capital.

The agitation erupted after the Narendra Modi government passed the contentious Citizenship Act (CAA) in Parliament on December 11. Two days later, President Ram Nath Kovind gave assent and making it a law on December 13. The Citizenship Act grants Indian nationality to Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Parsis and Sikhs who fled Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan in half the time of other groups if they can argue they suffered religious discrimination in their country of origin.   

Asaduddin Owaisi reacts to new act in Delhi

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi while condemning law said the Central government has empowered the Delhi Police to detain under the National Security Act (NSA).

In a tweet, Owaisi said, "Delhi police has shown willingness to act in a way that pleases the Centre. Now it's been empowered to detain under draconian NSA."

"It allows detention up to one year without vakil , daleel , appeal and is popular with cops who want to go after anyone irrespective of their guilt/innocence," Asaduddin Owaisi said.