New Delhi: The Uttarakhand government’s decision to extend the imposition of National Security Act (NSA) in the state by a period of three months, till December 31, citing the Lakhimpur Kheri violence has earned criticism from the Congress.Former chief minister and party general secretary Harish Rawat held a day-long protest against the move on Monday, the day the extension came into force.Reacting to the move, Rawat termed it an “unfortunate decision” and asked what was the trigger for it. He also urged the Pushkar Singh Dhami-led BJP state government to specify what necessitated the extension.Rawat has also alleged that the decision was aimed at creating an “uncomfortable atmosphere” ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. He charged that attempts were on to “create such an environment where people cannot feel safe and in peace”.Incidentally, while the extension was announced on October 4, a day after a mob attacked a church in Roorkee and a few days after there was communal tension in Tehri, Dhami linked it to the unrest due to the farmers’ agitation in Uttar Pradesh, and its effects in the adjoining Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts.The previous orders were issued in July this year.Under the order, the state government empowered district magistrates to book “anti-national and anti-social elements” under the NSA. The order, issued by additional chief secretary Anand Vardhan, stated that “several districts in the recent past had witnessed incidents of violence and such incidents could flare up in the coming days. The anti-social elements are involved in such violent incidents”.It also noted that the district magistrates of all the 13 districts have been granted permission till December 31, to impose NSA if required. The Act empowers officials to detain a person for up to one year.Government spokesperson Subodh Uniyal had defended the decision to a news channel saying, “We don’t want anti-national elements to find a breeding ground in Uttarakhand. Officials have been clearly and strongly told to deal strongly with such elements.”The notification also stated that “anti-social elements are involved in adverse activities to create problems related to safety and law and order” and that “considering the existing situation and future threats, the state government has agreed to extend the time limit of imposition of NSA.”The NSA has also been used rampantly in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh by the Adityanath government.The Wire had reported last year as to how most of those booked under it were accused of cow slaughter. A report had pointed out that of the 139 people against whom the Act had been invoked till early August in Uttar Pradesh last year, more than half – 76 to be precise – were booked in connection with alleged cow slaughter cases. Apart from this 13 arrests were of people who participated in anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests.In June this year, while interacting with a national daily, Adityanath had justified his government’s use of the NSA, including against journalists, by claiming that it was being done to prevent situations of conflict and communal riots.He also told The Hindu recently that his government has not invoked NSA (National Security Act) in wrong cases, and has always provided the basis for invoking it both in the courts and in the advisory boards. In most cases these have been validated, he claimed. However, there have been several other reports which have recorded the use of the draconian tool as a weapon against the minorities and opposing voices.