Instead of reducing the maximum number of firearms for which licence can be issued to an individual from three to one, as the bill originally envisaged, Parliament settled for two as the new limit. Had the limit been reduced to one, it would have affected defence minister Rajnath Singh, agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar, social justice minister Thawar Chand Gehlot and food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
“Owning multiple weapons was a necessity in an era of poor communication facilities when police stations were few and far away, and the amendment reflects the changed realities of our society,” said home minister Amit Shah, adding that the bill was uploaded for comments a month ago and changes were made based on the feedback received.
According to data collated from affidavits filed for the 2019 general elections, over 18 per cent of Lok Sabha MPs have firearms. The weapons, including both India-made and imported, cost Rs 4,000 to Rs 7 lakh as per the affidavits. “The prices must have been underestimated, though it can be ascertained only by looking at the condition of the guns,” says a senior IPS officer who didn’t wish to be identified. Jagdambika Pal (BJP), Asaduddin Owaisi (All-India Majlis-eIttehadul Muslimeen), Ajay Nishad (BJP), Mohammed Azam Khan (Samajwadi Party) and Ram Shiromani (BSP) are among the MPs who have more than one licensed weapon. Shiromani, who represents Uttar Pradesh’s Shrawasti constituency in the Lok Sabha, says the home minister has not cleared if the provision of two firearms is only for people applying for new licences or also for those like him who already have three licences.
This story is from the December 23, 2019 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 23, 2019 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Soft Ruins
'Soft Ruins' is a chapter within the long-term ongoing project \"When Spring Never Comes\", an expansive exploration of memory, identity and displacement in the aftermath of exile within contemporary global politics. It reflects on how the journey as an asylum seeker in Europe mirrors the instability and threats of life under dictatorship, amidst rising right-wing movements and shifting power dynamics, where both certainty and identity are redefined
Building Beyond Homes: Provident Housing's Transformative Approach
Provident Housing leads in crafting thoughtfully designed homes that cater to modern homebuyers' evolving needs. With a focus on timely delivery, sustainability, and innovative, customer-centric solutions, the company sets new benchmarks. In this exclusive interview, Mallanna Sasalu, CEO of Provident Housing, shares insights into the company's strategies, upcoming projects, and vision for India's housing future.
Syria Speaks
A Syrian graffiti artist-activist's tale of living through bombings, gunshots and displacement
The Burdened
Yemen, once a beautiful land identified with the Queen of Sheba, is now one of the worst ongoing humanitarian disasters of modern times
Sculpting In Time
Documentaries such as Intercepted and Songs of Slow Burning Earth grapple with the Russian occupation beyond displays of desolation
The Story Won't Die
Is Israel's triumphalism over its land grab in Syria realistic? The hard reality is-Israel now has Al-Qaeda as a next-door neighbour
Against the Loveless World
In times of war, love exists as a profound act of defiance
Soul of My Soul
What does it mean to continue to create art during a genocide?
in Dancing the Glory of Monsters
By humanising the stories of those affected by war, poverty and displacement, Buuma hopes to foster empathy and inspire action
All the President's Men
Co-author of All The President's Men and one of the two Washington Post journalists (the other was Carl Berntstein) who broke the Watergate scandal that brought down the President Richard Nixon administration in the United States in 1974, Bob Woodward's recent book War was on top of The New York Times Bestseller list, even above John Grisham.
