BJP allies in Bihar fidgety over POTO

By Our Staff Correspondent

PATNA, NOV. 17. The BJP might find Bihar a stumbling block in its effort to garner a consensus on converting into law the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) during the forthcoming session of Parliament.

With the RJD chief, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, putting his foot down, the allies of the BJP too are becoming fidgety in their reaction and support to the ``draculien'' provisions of the ordinance. Making things difficult for these allies which are desperately trying to appear secular despite their proximity to the BJP is the fact that the Congress(I) and all other Opposition parties including the left, are opposed to the ordinance.

Mr. Yadav categorically ruled out the possibility of the POTO being enforced in the State, charging that the provisions could be misused against the minorities in particular. He maintained that law and order in the State was quite under control and the existing laws were effective enough to cope with any situation.

This statement, in addition to the delayed action initiated with respect to the ban on SIMI, was certainly aimed at keeping his whopping vote bank intact. Which precisely is the reason that has made the allies of the BJP assert their separate identity more so because they no longer consider themselves to be in safe company.

The allies are wary of the BJP following the deprivation of important portfolios. The Union Coal and Mines Minister, Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan, has taken the lead in putting himself against the provisions of the POTO, while other allies like the Samata Party and the JB(U) have not opened their cards as yet.

In Mr. Paswan's view the POTO was draconian in nature, imperiling civil liberties and he felt that the allies should have been taken into confidence before promulgation of the ordinance. He went on to claim that his party would take a decision in this regard ahead of the commencement of Parliament.

He expressed his opposition to both the blanket incarceration without the provision of bail for three months and the provisions which impinges on the freedom of the press. He regarded most of the provisions as severe.

While the other allies of the BJP might be maintaining a discreet silence over the issue, his statement needs to be seen from the fact that he has been making efforts to get close to the Railway Minister, Mr. Nitish Kumar and his statement only helps him to underscore his drift from the BJP.

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