LS polls: Cong promises to omit Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code that defines ‘sedition’

The party manifesto promises to “Omit Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (that defines the offence of ‘sedition’) that has been misused and, in any event, has become redundant because of subsequent laws”.

New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday released its party manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, which the party claimed is the “Voice of the people of the country” and has been drafted by taking public opinion. Besides job opportunities and eradication of poverty, the party also promised to amend several laws in place including the law that defines sedition. The party manifesto promises to “Omit Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (that defines the offence of ‘sedition’) that has been misused and, in any event, has become redundant because of subsequent laws”. It also asserted that the party would “Amend the laws that allow for detention” and “Amend the laws that allow for detention without trial in order to bring them in accord with the spirit, and not just the letter, of the Constitution as well as International Human Rights Conventions” and “Pass a law titled the Prevention of Torture Act to prohibit the use of third-degree methods during custody or interrogation and punish cases of torture, brutality or other police excesses”.

Congress party in its election manifesto promises to omit Section 124A of the IPC (that defines the offence of Sedition). #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/nHIIyf54nB

— ANI (@ANI) April 2, 2019

It also talks about bringing about an “amendment in Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 in order to strike a balance between the powers of security forces and the human rights of citizens and to remove immunity for enforced disappearance, sexual violence and torture”. The party manifesto was released by Congress President Rahul Gandhi at AICC headquarters in the presence of all senior leaders like Sonia Gandhi, P Chidambaram, Manmohan Singh and AK Antony.