Press Statement
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
Scrap The Draconian Ordinance
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its strong and unambiguous opposition to the promulgation of the Prevention of Terrorism ordinance. The Vajpayee government has resorted to the ordinance route to bring into force a draconian law, which will attack the democratic rights of citizens with scope for misuse on a large scale.
It seems the government has not learnt any lesson from the notorious TADA law. Thousands of innocent people were subjected to loss of liberty for prolonged periods and neither did the law help to curb terrorism in any worthwhile manner.
The government had sought to introduce the Criminal Law (amendment) bill 1995 to replace the TADA. This bill was also strongly opposed by many parties and the National Human Rights Commission. Now utilising the international situation after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US, the BJP-led government is seeking to push through a more draconian version of the same bill. Among the obnoxious features, even those who are supposed to possess information about terrorist activities and fail to inform the authorities can be detained under this law. Further, the "intent" to threaten the unity and integrity of India can be invoked to detain people. These can be subject to gross misuse.
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) wishes to point out that given the BJP government's record and outlook, there is an increased danger of this ordinance being used in a partisan and motivated fashion. The BJP-led government refuses to take action against Hindu extremist activities who have an "intent to threaten the unity". The VHP-Bajrang Dal activities would fall within this category. There are ample grounds to believe that only one community will be targetted.
The CPI(M) appeals to all democratic sections to be aware of the serious consequences of this ordinance and the proposed Act. All those who value democratic rights and civil liberties should unitedly demand the scrapping of this ordinance.
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October 18, 2001
Press Statement
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
Serious Provocation At Ayodhya
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal have once again blatantly defied the law and conducted illegal activities in Ayodhya with the state government and the administration looking on. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal workers led by Ashok Singhal and other leaders entered the Babri Masjid site in which the makeshift temple stands and performed religious ceremonies in defiance of the Supreme Court directive. They were allowed to do so without hindrance and none of them were arrested afterwards. The site is under the control of the central government. The BJP-led government both in UP and the Centre have to answer for this provocative and illegal act.
The activities now being indulged in by the VHP regarding the Ayodhya dispute have received encouragement from the Prime Minister's statement some time back in Lucknow when he claimed that a solution would be found by March 2002 and talks were on for this purpose. The Prime Minister has followed this up by reviving the Ayodhya cell in the PMO after a meeting with top VHP leaders.
The BJP-RSS combine has embarked upon a deliberate campaign of provocative speeches and acts regarding the Ayodhya issue with a view to create communal polarisation to pursue its narrow electoral aims in Uttar Pradesh. The responsibility for worsening the communal situation is thus squarely upon the VHP and its patrons in the BJP-RSS combine.
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands immediate steps to arrest of those who have committed this provocative act under the relevant provisions of the law. The Home Minister has to be accountable for such activities at the site which is under the jurisdiction of the Centre.
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