Chennai: India should be more vehement in condemning the United States for its efforts to launch a war against Iraq, former Prime Minister V P Singh said on March 8.

US President George Bush's remark that there was no need for UN permission to launch a war against Iraq was "most dangerous", he told reporters.

"This dangerous trend should not be allowed to continue as it will affect other countries in future," he said.

On the women's reservation Bill, he said the Centre should attempt to arrive at a consensus before bringing it in Parliament. There were some apprehensions among the backward classes and these should be addressed.

There should be separate quota for backward classes women within the proposed 33 per cent reservation in Parliament and state Legislatures, he said, adding otherwise it would result in domination of upper castes in the reserved constituencies.

On Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) chief Vaiko's arrest under Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), he charged the Tamil Nadu government with misuse of the Act and said Vaiko was an MP and enjoyed the confidence of the electorate.

"Is he an anti-national to be arrested under POTA," Singh asked, adding the Act should not have been applied against Vaiko.

He demanded a thorough review of the use of POTA.