Chennai, Oct 22: Welcoming the Union government's decision to come out with an ordinance to provide more teeth to the Pota Review Committee, MDMK general secretary Vaiko said today that his 'considered view' was that the act should be repealed in toto, as it cannot prevent cross border terrorism in any manner. "The Union government's decision to empower the review committee to do justice for the aggrieved persons, incorporating amendment to Pota through an ordinance, is a welcome step. Yet, I stick to my view that Pota should be repealed in toto," he said in a statement.
Vaiko, now in jail for more than a year as a Pota detenu, said it had now been established that Pota 'has not served its purpose'. It cannot prevent cross-border terrorism in any manner, he said.
On the other hand, it had been 'misused' for settling political scores, Vaiko, a member of parliament, said.
Vaiko said he had vehemently opposed the bill when it was discussed in the NDA meeting.
"I did not speak in support of the bill in the discussions held in the Lok Sabha or in the joint session of both houses of Parliament, but due to coalition politics, I voted for the bill," he said.
Vaiko said he still considered that what he had done (voting for the bill) was a 'mistake' adding he was not trying to justify it. Bureau Report