"'Anti-National' Not Defined In Statutes But...": Government In Lok Sabha

The phrase 'anti-national' is used liberally by members of the ruling BJP when attacking critics of the party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government

The term 'anti-national' is not defined in statutes and was removed from the Constitution in 1976, a year after it was inserted, junior Home Minister Nityanand Rai told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

The phrase 'anti-national' is used liberally by members of the ruling BJP when attacking critics of the party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

There are, however, "criminal legislations and various judicial pronouncements to sternly deal with unlawful and subversive activities which are detrimental to the unity and integrity of the country" the minister said in a written reply.

Mr Rai was responding to a question from AIMIM chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi, who asked the government if it had defined the term under any legislation, 11 rules, or any other legal enactment.