'New law can be misused'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, OCT. 17. Even as the Government announced its intention to promulgate an ordinance to tackle terrorism, the Opposition reacted sharply to the move and warned against its introduction at this juncture.

The Congress and the Left parties were of the opinion that the Government was rushing in with the ordinance utilising the current situation and apprehended the proposed law could be misused.

The Congress expressed its apprehension over the manner in which the proposed ordinance was being pushed through by the Government at this ``sensitive juncture''. The party spokesman, Mr. Anand Sharma, said though there may be extra-ordinary conditions, yet the Government should have held wider consultations before rushing it through.

The CPI(M) and the CPI said they would oppose the ordinance and also mobilise public opinion against it. ``This ordinance is against the democratic rights of the people and the earlier Act (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act-TADA) was misused against minorities. That apprehension remains,'' the CPI(M) General Secretary, Mr. S. Ramachandran Pillai, told The Hindu.

The CPI too echoed similar views terming the ordinance as ``nothing but a new version of TADA''. The party's National Secretary, Mr.D.Raja, said the proposed ordinance had little safeguards against violations of democratic and human rights of the people.

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Section  : National
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