The Hindu : National : No new law to replace POTA: Patil

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 14, 2004

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National

No new law to replace POTA: Patil

LONDON, JUNE 13. The Government today said no new law will be enacted after the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act as the existing laws were sufficient to deal with terrorism and other related crimes.

``We are for repealing POTA ... We are not saying that a new law will replace POTA. What we are saying is clear that the existing laws are sufficient to deal with the situation today,'' the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, said during a BBC Hindi radio programme.

``In future, if a situation arises, in which we feel and all others feel that in the given circumstances, some changes in the existing laws are required or a new law is required, then with unanimity, and with the sanction of Parliament we can proceed in this direction,'' Mr. Patil said.

Asked whether the Government would restrict its dialogue to the Hurriyat or extend it to other Kashmiri groups, he said it would talk to the Hurriyat and also make efforts to talk to other willing groups.

On the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid issue, Mr. Patil said the court verdict would be binding on all.

``If someone is making efforts to resolve this outside the court, we will not stop them. But for such a solution to be acceptable to the whole country, it will have to be in the form of a decree of the court of law, giving it legal sanction.''— PTI

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