10 developments in the story:
The government said the amended Bill takes care of the main critique of state governments, that it violates the federal structure by allowing the Centre to intervene in restoring law and order in riot-hit areas without imposing President's rule.
"There will be no interference by the Centre. The state has to designate a competent authority to take action in a riot-affected area," Minority Affairs Minister K Rehman Khan told NDTV.
The Centre has also agreed to revise a provision that the BJP said discriminates between majority and minority communities by assuming that only members of the minority community can be targeted during a riot. The Government says the revised draft will penalise anyone causing disturbance, irrespective of religion, caste and linguistic group.
Complaining that the government had not shared the new draft with the opposition, Arun Jaitley today said, "It appears that on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections, in order to polarize the country on communal lines, the home ministry has again written a letter to the state governments. There hasn't so far been adequate consultation with the stakeholders."
The opposition has accused the ruling Congress of trying to pass the Bill ahead of national polls due by May, in the hope of winning Muslim votes. Arun Jaitley questioned the very basis of the Bill, since law and order is a state subject.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has also opposed the Bill in a strong letter to the Prime Minister, calling the changes "cosmetic at best and highly objectionable."
Ms Jayalalithaa flagged concerns about provisions "targeting" government officials. "It may render their functioning almost impossible while trying to grapple with communally sensitive situations," she said.
The 'Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill' was drafted by the National Advisory Council or NAC, a group of activists and civil society representatives chaired by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
The government, which wants to bring the Bill in the coming session, has begun consultations with state governments on the new Bill.
The proposed law came back into focus after the Muzaffarnagar riots in which 60 people were killed and nearly 40,000 displaced.
Mallikarjun Kharge Highlights Sonia Gandhi's Editorial On PM Modi Sonia Gandhi Was At PM House When Emergency Was Declared: Claims BJP Leader Watch: Smiles, Hugs As Sonia Gandhi Calls On Sheikh Hasina Why BJP Lost Lok Sabha Polls In Uttar Pradesh - 6 Reasons In Party Report World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage Puja Khedkar's Father Was Suspended Twice On Extortion Complaints Supreme Court Hears NEET Case, Says It Has "Social Ramifications" Watch: Ashneer Grover's Reaction To 22-Year-Old's Monthly Earning Viral IIT Kanpur Introduces 'SATHEE SSC' Platform For Exam Preparation Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.