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LS passes anti-terrorism bill, Opposition walks out
The Lok Sabha on Monday night passed the controversial anti-terrorist legislation described as draconian by opposition which walked out calling it a dark day in history even as home minister L K Advani gave an assurance that the law will not be misused.
The Lok Sabha on Monday night passed the controversial anti-terrorist legislation described as draconian by opposition which walked out calling it a dark day in history even as home minister L K Advani gave an assurance that the law will not be misused.
The Prevention Of Terrorism Bill, 2002 seeking to replace an ordinance was passed with 261 members supporting and 137 against in a division pressed by the opposition.
Earlier, the house rejected by a voice vote an opposition sponsored-statutory resolution disapproving the ordinance promulgated in October last.
Significantly, key NDA constituent, nine-member Trinamool Congress stayed away from the house expressing its opposition to the measure. Likewise, members belonging to Nationalist Congress Party and Bahujan Samaj Party stayed away from the House. BJP ally DMK, which was not enthusiastic about the bill, and its rival AIADMK voted in support.
In his brief reply, Advani sought to allay opposition fears that the bill would be misused against political opponents or be used the way defunct TADA was invoked against farmers in Gujarat.
As the deputy speaker P M Sayeed was about to announce the result of the division, CPI(M) leader Somnath Chatterjee said it would be a dark day in the annals of Parliament and the country was going to face another onslaught on the rights of the people.
Leader of the opposition Sonia Gandhi and her party members also joined in the walkout. The bill, which provides for stringent provisions to deal with terrorism will now go to Rajya Sabha where the ruling combine lacks majority.
The ruling combine has already talked of a joint session of Parliament to get the measure approved if it is defeated in the upper house.
Bureau Report
Earlier, the house rejected by a voice vote an opposition sponsored-statutory resolution disapproving the ordinance promulgated in October last.
Significantly, key NDA constituent, nine-member Trinamool Congress stayed away from the house expressing its opposition to the measure. Likewise, members belonging to Nationalist Congress Party and Bahujan Samaj Party stayed away from the House. BJP ally DMK, which was not enthusiastic about the bill, and its rival AIADMK voted in support.
In his brief reply, Advani sought to allay opposition fears that the bill would be misused against political opponents or be used the way defunct TADA was invoked against farmers in Gujarat.
As the deputy speaker P M Sayeed was about to announce the result of the division, CPI(M) leader Somnath Chatterjee said it would be a dark day in the annals of Parliament and the country was going to face another onslaught on the rights of the people.
Leader of the opposition Sonia Gandhi and her party members also joined in the walkout. The bill, which provides for stringent provisions to deal with terrorism will now go to Rajya Sabha where the ruling combine lacks majority.
The ruling combine has already talked of a joint session of Parliament to get the measure approved if it is defeated in the upper house.
Bureau Report