Advocate Phoolka lauds Centre's move to make racial discrimination a criminal offence

Senior advocate H.S. Phoolka on Tuesday praised the Centre's move to initiate a bill to bring new provisions under the present criminal laws that will make racial discrimination a criminal offence.

"We need to send a clear message that no attacks on the basis of race, religion or caste would be tolerated, and this is a good move. But along with it, any attack, which is a premeditated attack, the punishment should be enhanced from the normal IPC, which is three months now, and should be made a non-bailable offence," Phoolka told ANI here.

According to reports, new sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) state that making derogatory remarks on race, culture or physical appearance could invite a five-year jail term.