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Parliament on Thursday night passed the Prevention of Terrorism Act (Repeal) Bill and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill with the Rajya Sabha giving its seal of approval by a voice vote amidst a walkout by the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Bill will replace POTA.
The Samajwadi Party abstained from voting while the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham opposed the bills.
The Lok Sabha had on Monday passed the bill repealing POTA and approved another to strengthen the fight against terrorism but after an assurance from the government that it will discuss certain provisions in the measure with Left parties and introduce amendments, if necessary.
Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee gave the assurance after the Communist Party of India and Communist Party of India-Marxist protested against the decision not to refer the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2004 to a standing committee of Parliament.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance had staged a walkout after the government made it clear that the second bill to bolster the fight against terrorism in the absence of POTA could not be referred to a standing committee due to paucity of time.