The Hindu : Most States may not invoke POTA?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 28, 2002

Front Page

Front Page

Most States may not invoke POTA?

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 27. The build-up against the implementation of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), which was adopted by a joint session of Parliament, appears to have begun with the CPI (M) and some Congress-ruled States announcing their decision not to put the legislation to use in State.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) had announced earlier that both in West Bengal and Tripura, were the party is heading the Governments, the new legislation would not be implemented. Today, the party's politburo appealed to all the Opposition-ruled State Governments to ensure that this "draconian law" is not used in their States.

. In Assam, the Congress Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, was quoted by an agency that his Government would not put it to use. He maintained that the State was armed with enough laws to handle insurgency and terrorism. Similarly, in Rajasthan, the State Home Minister, Gulab Singh Shaktwat, has taken a similar stand.

The AICC maintained that while the Congress had vehemently opposed the `draconian' measure, it was yet to consider it from either as a policy or legal angle, the party spokesman, S. Jaipal Reddy, said. As of now, no direction had been issued from the party's central leadership to the States where the Congress ruled.

Criticising the adoption of POTA through the joint session of Parliament as a "serious blow to the democratic rights of citizens and the democratic system'', the CPI(M) politburo, in a statement, said that in a short time the POTO was in place "we have seen how the Narendra Modi Government in Gujarat used it deliberately and selectively against alleged offenders belonging to the minority community while not using the law against those belonging to the majority community charged with similar serious crimes''.

Meanwhile, the politburo member, Prakash Karat, told The Hindu, that since law and order was a State subject, it was up to the Governments to decide on its implementation. The West Bengal Government did not use the National Security Act either. Even the now lapsed Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act was applied just once in Tripura.

If the Congress having its Governments in 14 States and sharing power in alliance in two States that joins the CPI (M) in non-implementing POTA, it would mean a majority of the States opt out.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

Stories in this Section

Vajpayee puts Modi on notice

New taxes in T.N. to mop up Rs. 690 cr.

BJP, BJD hit by cross-voting in RS polls

Keep off stagnant Hindutva: PM

Don't become pawns, RSS tells Muslims

Most States may not invoke POTA?

LTTE-Govt. talks in May?

Azhar shifted to residence

Suicide attack