Govt does not consider POTA necessary law: Patil

When asked whether POTA would be repealed, the Home Minister said the Govt will go by the CMP draft, likely to be announced on May 27.

Government does not consider the controversial POTA a 'necessary' law and will examine its various aspects before deciding its fate, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said on Monday.

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"We do not consider POTA as necessary, but we will examine the issue carefully and not take any hasty measure," Patil said in New Delhi.

While Law Minister HR Bharadwaj said the Congress-led Government did not relish POTA and steps would be taken to repeal or amend the statute, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was of the view that the Government would go by the Common Minimum Programme (CMP).

With Left parties and Southern allies of the Congress being strongly opposed to the anti-terrorism measure, the draft CMP has described the law as "grossly misused" in the last two years and suggested its abrogation.

Replying to questions after taking over as the Home Minister, Patil said "my party's (Congress) stand on POTA is well known. Now that we have taken over, we will have to see all the aspects of this law."

Asked that the Law Minister has stated that he would be submitting his views on POTA to Home Ministry, he said "this is a coalition Government. We will have to consult every ally of ours before taking the matter to the Cabinet."