National
POTO provisions to be amended: Advani
By Vinay Kumar
NEW DELHI, DEC. 5. The Government would bring about amendments in at least two provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO), 2001, the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, said today.
They would be considered by the Union Cabinet at its meeting on Thursday, he told The Hindu after addressing the 74th annual meeting of the FICCI here. As the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, is leaving for Japan on Friday, the amendments are expected to be cleared.
Mr. Advani said the changes relate to Section 3(8) and Section 14(2), on the obligation to furnish information. The Government would attempt to allay the fears of journalists on some provisions. Also, the life of the law could be brought down from five to three years.
Under Section 14(2), failure to furnish information or deliberately furnishing false information is punishable with a prison term. Under Section 3(8), failure to disclose information as soon as reasonably practicable to the police attracts a prison term extending to one year.
On Tuesday's all-party meeting, in which the Government failed to convince the Opposition to shed its dislike to the anti-terrorism law, Mr. Advani said only the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) had come up with suggestions. Others wanted either the Ordinance to lapse or felt there was no need for it.
The NCP had assured support if suitable amendments were made in provisions relating to bail, confession, press, inquiry officer and detention. The TDP wanted to reduce the life of the law to three years.
Earlier, while addressing the FICCI meeting, Mr. Advani asserted that the Government would go ahead with the measure in Parliament as a new, comprehensive law was needed to secure convictions against terrorists.
``The existing provisions in the law are insufficient to deal with the menace of terrorism. Even under TADA there was a rather low rate of conviction. We may catch terrorists but it is very difficult to punish them. There is no hesitation in bringing about a new anti-terrorism law but we are ready to include ample safeguards in it. We will continue to work in this direction as internal, external and economic security of the country is being challenged by terrorism,'' he told the audience of businessmen and industrialists.
He regretted that the Government could not strike a ``synergetic'' relationship with the Opposition on drumming up support for POTO but the ``synergy'' could be used towards fulfilling ``our responsibilities towards the nation''.
Mr. Advani appealed to all sections of society, including industry and media, to respond in a manner that kept national interest above all considerations. ``All of us should react to situations in a manner which show that our primary concern is our nation,'' he said, praising the response in the United States after the September 11 attacks.
Describing cross-border terrorism as the ``biggest challenge'' before the nation, he said the question of security had today become a ``comprehensive concern'' of not just the Defence Ministry but also of the Home, Finance and other Ministries as well as that of the Planning Commission. ``Synergy in different sources such as information technology, Planning
Commission, business and commerce is an essential component in giving good governance,'' Mr. Advani said.
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