New Delhi, September 13
An ordinance to repeal the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) is likely to be approved by the Cabinet when it meets here on Wednesday.
The repeal of this Act has been on the cards ever since it was specifically mentioned in the UPA government’s National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP). A Bill to this effect was to be tabled in Parliament but the Centre was unable to do so as no business could be conducted during the recently-concluded session because of lengthy disruptions.
Given the UPA government’s commitment on this issue, the Centre then decided to promulgate an ordinance to repeal this Act. In fact, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had mentioned in his first press conference: “It is our intention to bring an ordinance to repeal POTA and it will be done very soon.”
Government sources said the matter was expected to be discussed and approved at the next Cabinet meeting.
While the promulgation of an ordinance is along expected lines, the Congress today maintained the repeal of the Act did not, in any way, weaken their government’s fight against terrorism. Party spokesperson Anand Sharma said the BJP was seeking to give the impression but it was not correct. He said the Act was being suitably amended to give it more teeth to deal with terrorism.
