Date:20/09/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/20/stories/2004092001661000.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Repeal of POTA

Sir, — The Union Cabinet's decision to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act through an ordinance is welcome. But the status of the POTA Review Committees has not been made clear. The review process should be completed within one year and should not be allowed to drag on.

M. Jagadish,
Bhadravati, Karnataka

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Sir, — It is unwise to scrap POTA in its entirety as we are not yet free from acts of terrorism from across the border or even from within the country. Instead, the offending provisions could have been removed.

V. Padmanabhan,
Bangalore

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Sir, — Contrary to the Bharatiya Janata Party's claim, POTA did not prevent terrorism. It did nothing to strengthen India's internal security; it encouraged a police state and curbed the human rights enjoyed by the people of the world's largest democracy.

Sriram Varadharajan,
Pasadena, California

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Sir, — The BJP's description of the Cabinet decision as vote bank politics is untenable. Even though the POTA Review Committee has said that there was no prima facie evidence for the detention of MDMK leader Vaiko, a one-time BJP ally, before the recent general election, the BJP formed an alliance with the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu just for the sake of securing some seats in Parliament. Does this mean the BJP supported the way in which POTA had been misused in Tamil Nadu? National parties should stick to principle-based politics.

R. Sridhar,
Chennai

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Sir, — The Cabinet's approval for the repeal of POTA, the announcement of a three per cent hike in dearness allowance for Central Government staff, dearness relief for pensioners and the declaration of Tamil as a classical language are all praiseworthy.

M. Nazeeruddin,
Kurnool, A.P.