New Delhi: Congress-led Opposition parties in Rajya Sabha today (Dec 18, 2003) sought repeal of POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) saying the very fact that the Government wanted to amend it proves that the anti-terrorism law has been misused.

Opposing Prevention of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2003, which seeks to provide a safeguard against misuse of POTA by making Review Committee's decision binding on the Centre and State Governments, Kapil Sibal (Congress) said this was an "ill-conceived" piece of legislation and had been introduced in Parliament to keep an ally of the Government (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) happy.

The Bill, which has already been passed by Lok Sabha, was introduced in the Upper House by Home Minister L K Advani.

The measure, which seeks to replace the POTA (Amendment) Ordinance promulgated in October 2003, has been brought in the backdrop of allegations of its misuse.

Sibal said the role Review Committees envisaged under this Bill is not clear. Neither can they interfere when investigations against the accused are going on nor when the case report is submitted to courts, he said.

"And Government itself says such committees have no judicial powers. Then what is their role?" Sibal asked.

Referring to the Supreme Court judgement which said moral support to terrorist organisations does not make the supporter culpable under POTA, he asked Government to seek a review of this decision.

PTI

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