New Delhi: A strong demand for immediate repeal of POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) was made by almost the entire Opposition in the Lok Sabha on April 23, which alleged that the "draconian" act was being misused in states like Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

Raising the issue during zero hour, Ramji Lal Suman (SP) said the act aimed at preventing terrorism was so "grossly misused" that in Jharkhand children and minors have been detained under it on the pretext of being naxalites.

Supporting him, Basudeb Acharia, Somnath Chatterjee and Rupchand Pal (all CPM) said the act was being used with "vengeance".

Expressing concern over the detention of MDMK (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) leader Vaiko and a journalist under POTA in Tamil Nadu, Acharia said time has come for repeal of the Act.

Chatterjee said the constitution of the Review Committee by the Centre in itself was an admission that the act was being misused. He wondered how the Centre took two different stands in Supreme Court on the detention of Vaiko.

Ajoi Chakravarty (CPI) expressed apprehension that UP Chief Minister Mayawati was "preparing the ground" for detaining SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav under POTA. His party colleague Prabodh Panda and RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh also came down heavily on the government for the legislation.

P R Das Munsi (Cong) said his party Chief Ministers had not misused the Act and had even dealt VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) leaders like Pravin Togadia under sections of the Indian Penal Code.

He cautioned the treasury benches that if they failed to take corrective steps, sooner than later the Act would be used against them by the ruling party in UP.

PTI