External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will move the Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill, 2019 in Rajya Sabha today.
Earlier on Monday, the Lok Sabha passed the bill that seeks to provide an effective legal instrument to combat piracy not only in territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) but also on the high seas. The Bill defines piracy as any illegal act of violence, detention, or destruction against a ship, aircraft, person or property, for private purposes, by the crew or passengers of a private ship or aircraft.
Speaking in Lok Sabha during the discussion on the Bill, S Jaishankar said “The official amendment has provided punishment for life. Earlier, there was a provision for death. Now, the provision for death has been amended as per government amendment to punishment to death or with imprisonment for life, if such a person is committing the act of piracy and causes death or an attempt thereof.”
