Rajnath Singh hints at new law to curb mob lynching issues

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday hinted that the Central government may come with laws to curb lynching cases soon. Singh was replying back to a query from the Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge. The minister said that the government is sensitive towards these issues and looking at the prospects of framing a strict law to curb lynching cases.

Replying back to the senior Congress parliamentarian’s query, Singh said, “I want to clear, that we have taken the issue very seriously. Yesterday only a high level committee has been constituted to tackle with this (lynching) matter. Based on the recommendations, group of ministers will take decisions on what steps need to be taken. If the committee recommends that a law to be made, the Union government will make it.”

Adding more, Singh re-iterated his old comment that lynching in India is not a new phenomenon, and said that the biggest lynching took place in 1984. Answering the Lok Sabha, the Union Home Minister said, “This is not happening since last 3-4 years. Biggest lynching took place in 1984.”

Mallikarjun Kharge raised his concern over the issue of how Akbar Khan was treated by Rajasthan police, after being lynched by mob over allegations of cow smuggling. Unsatisfied with the modus oparandi of the state government in handling the case, Kharge said, “The matter should be investigated by a sitting judge of Supreme Court.”

Md Salim rakes up street justice issue:

Making his presence felt in the Lok Sabha, CPI(M) leader Mohammed Salim raked up the issue of street justice by mob in the country. He asked the Union Minister what steps are being taken to improve the current status and said, “Discussion on street justice by mob on lynching is not appropriate in Parliament. But it is the need of the hour, and we need to talk about it.”