IN yet another step towards fascism and state-sponsored terrorism, the Indian government has amended its draconian National Investigation Agency Act.

Under this act some Kashmiri (Jamaat-i-Islami), Punjabi (Khalistan), and Naxal organisations were banned as ‘terrorists’.

Now, under the amended NIA any individual, including human rights activists and so-called urban-Naxal intellectuals, could also be declared terrorist, even for a telephonic conversation without due legal process.

India has a slew of laws to suppress dissent and suspend fundamental rights.

Will human rights organisations take notice?

Asghar Javed

Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2019