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Govt does not consider Pota necessary law: Patil
New Delhi, May 24: Government does not consider the controversial Pota a `necessary` law and will examine its various aspects before deciding its fate, Union Home minister Shivraj Patil said today.
New Delhi, May 24: Government does not consider the controversial Pota a "necessary" law and will examine its various aspects before deciding its fate, Union Home minister Shivraj Patil said today.
"We do not consider Pota as necessary but we will examine the issue carefully and not take any hasty measure," Patil said here.
While Law minister H R Bharadwaj said the Congress-led government did not relish Pota and steps would be taken to repeal or amend the statute, Parliamentary Affairs minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was of the view that the government would go by the Common Minimum Programme (CMP).
With Left parties and southern allies of the Congress being strongly opposed to the anti-terrorism measure, the draft CMP has described the law as "grossly misused" in the last two years and suggested its abrogation. Replying to questions after taking over as the Home minister, Patil said, "My party's (Congress) stand on Pota is well known. Now that we have taken over, we will have to see all the aspects of this law."
Asked that the Law minister has stated that he would be submitting his views on Pota to Home ministry, he said, "This is a coalition government. We will have to consult every ally of ours before taking the matter to the cabinet."
When reporters asked Patil to make a clear statement as to whether Pota would be repealed or amended, he said, "Please wait for the Common Minimum Programme (CMP)" which is expected to be announced on May 27. Bhardawaj told reporters, "We do not relish Pota. I will discuss the issue with the Home ministry very soon to get it repealed or bring some amendment to it."
However, he said he was not sure when it will be repealed or amended. "My opinion on Pota will be given to the Home ministry," Bharadwaj said. To a question about introduction of a bill for repealing the anti-terrorism law, Azad said the government would go by the CMP and "our priorities will reflect in the President's address to the joint session of Parliament on June 7."
When the attention of the new Home minister was drawn to the detenues under defunct TADA who have been languishing in jail without trial in Maharashtra, Patil said he would look into the matter.
Bureau Report
While Law minister H R Bharadwaj said the Congress-led government did not relish Pota and steps would be taken to repeal or amend the statute, Parliamentary Affairs minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was of the view that the government would go by the Common Minimum Programme (CMP).
With Left parties and southern allies of the Congress being strongly opposed to the anti-terrorism measure, the draft CMP has described the law as "grossly misused" in the last two years and suggested its abrogation. Replying to questions after taking over as the Home minister, Patil said, "My party's (Congress) stand on Pota is well known. Now that we have taken over, we will have to see all the aspects of this law."
Asked that the Law minister has stated that he would be submitting his views on Pota to Home ministry, he said, "This is a coalition government. We will have to consult every ally of ours before taking the matter to the cabinet."
When reporters asked Patil to make a clear statement as to whether Pota would be repealed or amended, he said, "Please wait for the Common Minimum Programme (CMP)" which is expected to be announced on May 27. Bhardawaj told reporters, "We do not relish Pota. I will discuss the issue with the Home ministry very soon to get it repealed or bring some amendment to it."
However, he said he was not sure when it will be repealed or amended. "My opinion on Pota will be given to the Home ministry," Bharadwaj said. To a question about introduction of a bill for repealing the anti-terrorism law, Azad said the government would go by the CMP and "our priorities will reflect in the President's address to the joint session of Parliament on June 7."
When the attention of the new Home minister was drawn to the detenues under defunct TADA who have been languishing in jail without trial in Maharashtra, Patil said he would look into the matter.
Bureau Report