Chennai: A state-level committee, to plan agitations demanding the repeal of the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), has been formed in Tamil Nadu with the Communist Party of India (CPI) Tamil Nadu unit secretary R Nallakannu as chairman and DPI general secretary R Thirumavalavan as convenor.

The committee, in consultation with the like-minded parties and organisations, would chalk out an action demanding the repeal of the POTA, Nallakannu told reporters at the end of an all-party meeting, convened by the DPI on August 5.

He said that the meeting also demanded immediate release of all those who had been detained under POTA in Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu government, as a divisionary tactics to divert the attention of the people of the state from the burning issues like drinking water shortage, handloom weavers problems and Cauvery issue, was "misusing" the provisions of the POTA to arrest the political leaders for their speeches at public meetings, he said, adding that the arrests amounted to denial of freedom of expression and speech.

In other states, POTA was being misused for arrests of minorities, he said, adding that the parties, which attended the meeting demanded repeal of the Act and would not accept any amendments to the Act. As long as the Act was in force, it would be misused, he said.

Thirumavalavan said that a series of agitation would be planned against the POTA in the state.

CPI-Marxist (CPM), TMMK and Tamil National Movement were among the 23 parties, which attended the meeting on August 5.

PTI