NEW DELHI, Dec 2 ? At least ten militant outfits operating in the north-eastern region (NER) including the ULFA and NDFB have been declared outlaw under the ?Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2004? tabled in the Lok Sabha here today.
The list of terrorists? organisations, however, held no surprises as they continued to face ban and under provisions of POTA since junked by the Government. A POTA ( Repeal) Bill was tabled simultaneously by Union Minister of State, S Reghupathy here this morning.
Despite stiff opposition from the NDA, the UPA Government in keeping with the promises made in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) has had already issued Presidential Ordinances repealing the POTA in September. An Ordinance proposing amendment to the ?Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967? was also issued along side.
Under the ?Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2004?, only two outfits of Assam faces ban. Other outfits like the DHD and both factions of NSCN have ceasefire agreement with Government of India.
The maximum number of outfits banned under the Act is from Manipur including the Peoples Liberation Army, United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), Kangleipal Communist Party (KCP), Kenglei Yaol Kanba Lup (KYKL) and the Manipur People?s Liberation Front (MPLF).
In Tripura, the All Tripura Tiger Force and the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) continued to face ban. The tabling of the Bills to repeal the POTA and the Amendment Bill did not see much resistance from the Opposition from NDA, as Presidential Ordinances were already issued. BJP leader, VK Malhotra did put on record their objection by charging that repeal of POTA has put the country?s security at risk.
The POTA was enacted as a special law to deal with terrorist acts. There have been allegations of gross misuse of the provisions of the Act by some State Governments. Views have been
expressed that provisions of the Act were misused in case where they should not have been invoked. It has also been observed in various quarters that the Act has failed to serve its intended purpose and as a result, there have been persistent demands that the Act should be repealed, the statement of object and reasons said.
The Central Government has been concerned with the manner in which provisions of the POTA 2002 were being grossly misused in the past two years. Accordingly, it was felt necessary to repeal the Act. At the same time, the Government is also firm in its resolve not to compromise in the fight against terrorism, which poses a serious threat to national security and also at the global level. India also has been a front-runner in the global fight against terrorism, the statement of object said.
The ?POTA Repeal Bill 2004? seeks to repeal the ?POTA (Repeal) Ordinance 2004?. The Ordinance empowered the Central Review Committee constituted under POTA, 2002 to review all cases pending in the courts or at various stages of investigation within the period of one year. Further, the Central Government may constitute more review committee, as it may consider necessary for completing the review within the specified period of one year. A total of three review committees have been constituted.
The ?Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act? also has provisions for setting up of review committees. The Central Government shall constitute one or more review committees, and each would consist of a chairman, who may be sitting or former judge of High Court and three other members. The chairman of the review committee is proposed to be appointed in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned.
Meanwhile, in the Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister, E Ahmed said that the Government of India has no information to verify whether the anti-India groups operating in Bangladesh were ?Jehadi? in nature. He was responding to a question about mushrooming growth of anti-India ?Jehadi? organisations in the neighbouring country.
The Minister of State, however, did concede that the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh while speaking at the inaugural session of ?India-Bangladesh Dialogue of Young Journalists? did make some negative remarks about India.
The Bangladesh High commissioner in New Delhi was summoned by the Foreign Secretary on September 10 and the Government of India?s surprise and dismay conveyed to him. The Government of India would continue to engage the Government of Bangladesh constructively to address our security concerns.
The Government has repeatedly taken up with the Government of Bangladesh, the issue of activities of Indian insurgent groups operating from Bangladesh soil,? the Minister said in a written reply.