India’s Lok Sabha – the Lower House of Parliament – yesterday passed two important Bills in its current moves to combat terrorism.

The new Bill presented in the wake of the terrorist attacks on Mumbai are the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill 2008,and another to set up a National Investigation Agency to cut through state lines in investigating terrorism.

The two Bills obtained the overwhelming support of parties in the Lok Sabha, including the Opposition Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) and several other Opposition parties.

The Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram, who presented the Bills, said the new legislation sought to redefine terrorism in accordance with a global consensus, and bring under the purview of law those trying to fund terrorist activities and organizing terror camps. Bail provisions for terror related offences had been tightened, and the onus of proof had been shifted to the accused in terror related cases, with regard to definitive evidence such as blood samples and fingerprints gathered from the scene of an offence.