November 26, 2001

'5'

CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ATTACHED TO MHA DELIBERATES ON POTO

        The meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs which discussed the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance, 2001 on Friday but remained inconclusive due to shortage of time resumed the deliberations today, the 26^th November, 2001. Most Members acknowledged the need for a special law to deal with the problem of terrorism. Members expressed the need to ensure that effective safeguards are provided to contain misuse of the provisions of the new law. Some Members also suggested that wider political consultations be held before the Bill is introduced in Parliament.

        The Home Minister, Shri L.K. Advani took note of the views of the Members and stated that the Government was prepared to consider specific suggestions in order to ensure that innocent persons are not subjected to harassment/victimization. He also told the Meeting that the Prime Minister had already agreed to convene a Meeting with opposition parties before the Bill is introduced in Parliament.

        The following Members S/Shri Ananda Mohan Biswas, Holkhomang Haokip, G.M. Banatwalla, Madan Lal Khurana, Vaiko, Somnath Chatterjee, Ali Mohd. Naik, Wangcha Rajkumar, Shivraj V. patil, Saiduzzaman, Avtar Singh Bhadana, Anadi Charan Sahu, J.P. Yadav, Adityanath, Bishnu Pada Roy and Sahib Singh Verma all from Lok Sabha and S/Shri Dina Nath Mishra, Ram Gopal yadav, S. Viduthalai Virumbi, Swaraj Kaushal, Narendra Mohan, Suresh Pachouri, Karan Singh, S. Roy Chowdhury, Arjun Singh, Mirza Abdul Rashid, Balbir K. Punj and Ghulam Nabi Azad all from Rajya Sabha participated.

        The Law Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley and the Ministers of State for Home, Shri I.D. Swamy and Shri Ch. Vidyasagar Rao attended the Meeting. The Home Minister, Shri L.K. Advani presided over the meeting held in Parliament House.