New Delhi: Congress is totally opposed to the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance) demand for referring the Bill repealing the anti-terrorist law POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance) to Standing Committee and is hopeful of the measure being approved by Rajya Sabha.

"There is no question of referring the Bill to Standing Committee. We are hopeful that Rajya Sabha will approve it and adopt the new legislation to tackle terrorism," party spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters in New Delhi.

This would be done before January 13 as the ordinance repealing POTA would lapse on that day, he said.

"UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government is committed to see its passage in Rajya Sabha and it hopeful in this regard," he said charging the BJP with "deliberately trying to politicise the issue".

It was not only a commitment made in the National Common Minimum Programme (CMP) but it was mentioned in the President A P J Abdul Kalam's address to joint sitting of Parliament, he recalled.

Sharma expressed the hope that Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in consultations with Business Advisory Committee would fix a date for a discussion on the Bill and its passage.

BJP, he recalled, invoked for the first time in the recent years provisions of the Constitution to convene a joint session of Parliament to get POTA passed after it was rejected by the Rajya Sabha.

To a question, Sharma said that the Left parties were equally committed to repeal of the POTA.