COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Karunanidhi withdraws 'draconian' bill

In a significant move, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today announced the withdrawal of the controversial Prevention of Terrorist Activities Bill passed by the state assembly last year in a bid to crack down on Islamic fundamentalists in the wake of the serial bomb blasts in Coimbatore.

Even as the bill is awaiting presidential assent, the chief minister, while replying to the debate on the demand for grants to the police department, announced the withdrawal of the bill saying it was not necessary now in view of the improved law and order situation in the state.

The bill, almost a replica of the now defunct Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, was returned by the Union home ministry to the state government seeking some clarifications before being referred to the president.

Karunanidhi said a committee headed by state Law Minister Aladi Aruna had discussed the bill threadbare and suggested to the assembly secretariat that it be referred to the select committee. Since the assembly secretariat clarified that a bill which had already been passed could not be referred to the select committee, the government decided to withdraw it, he explained.

Muslim leaders had dubbed the bill as "draconian" and protested against its passage in the house.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report