Chennai: Actor-politician Kamal Haasan on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to ensure that the anti-trafficking bill was taken up for discussion in the winter session of Parliament.
The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018 was passed by the Lok Sabha in July this year and was pending for discussion in Rajya Sabha, the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief pointed out. “I would like to congratulate your government for coming up with this draft law, which in my view will provide necessary tools for law enforcement agency to prevent this crime and provide sufficient assistance to the victims rescued for them to start a new and respectful life”, Kamal Haasan told the PM in his letter.
Citing his recent interaction with a group of survivors of human trafficking, he said they had narrated “tales of deception, physical brutality and mental scar they must live with for their entire life.” Stating that India “acts as an origination, transit and destination point for this inhuman activity”, he said it “is a shame that even after 70 years of independence, we have not been able to create a safe and prosperous environment for all our children, brothers and sisters”.
Kamal Haasan expressed the hope that the Government would present the Bill for discussion in the upcoming session of the Parliament and all parties support the proposed law. “Further, the Parliament may suitably address any shortcoming in the bill as highlighted by various political parties before it is finally passed,” he said.
