The Hindu : Throw POTA out

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 29, 2003

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Throw POTA out

Sir, — I fully agree with the views expressed in your editorial, "Throw POTA out" ( Oct. 28 ). Mere legislation has never reduced crime, and terrorism is no exception. POTA and its earlier clones, MISA and TADA, had a dubious record of political victimisation. I congratulate you for the focussed views and the democratic content in them.

P. Venkatesh,
Salem, T.N.

* * *

Sir, — Only such journalistic courage can serve as an eye-opener to those who have misused the Act, enacted with a specific purpose and intent. POTA should not be used as a political tool to suppress the fundamental rights of people or to settle scores with political opponents.

S.R. Dasarathan,
Tiruchi, T.N.

* * *

Sir, — It is an open secret that POTA has served the cause of the `bad' better. I concur with your view that it mars the happiness of the innocent. Instead of amending POTA, the Central Government should initiate action to root out the real cause of terrorism.

S.M. Basha,
Kurnool, A.P.

* * *

Sir, — Even while POTA was enacted, many people pointed out the possibilities of its misuse. The Government has at last realised that the Act has been misused and the ordinance is an attempt to prevent such abuse in future.

Anwar Ali T.P.,
Malappuram, Kerala

* * *

Sir, — State Governments should be asked to `notify' terrorist-infested areas and the provisions of POTA should be enforced only in such areas.

C. Ramesh,
Keeramangalam, T.N.

* * *

Sir, — The DMK and the MDMK have demanded total repeal of POTA. These parties had supported the Act and helped in its passage. It is a lesson for the parties, which take a wrong stance on crucial issues for narrow political gains.

S. Arun Bharathi,
Madurai, T.N.

* * *

Sir, — To argue for the freedom of expression of individuals who have been accused of supporting terrorism — a top politician, journalist or student — is defective and dangerous. Defective because it impinges on the freedom of law-abiding citizens, and dangerous because it encourages anti-national elements.

J. Parasuram Sharma,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — When 180 persons, including schoolchildren, have been booked under POTA in Jharkhand, how can you say the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, is the most eloquent champion of the Act? The amended and attenuated POTA is fangless and clawless which will die automatically.

R. Janakiraman,
Cheyyar, T.N.

* * *

Sir, — Judicial powers cannot be conferred on a review committee. What is the guarantee that it will not be misused by those in power at the Centre? The Ordinance has been promulgated not with a view to preventing the misuse of POTA, but only to please the NDA allies.

Ramasubramani P.,
Chennai

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Opinion

News Update

Stories in this Section

A way out of Telecom mess

Desperate measures

Challenges to the mining industry

The U.S. in Iraq

Throw POTA out

Politics of Pappapatti