'Patriotism And Support Of POTO Have Become Synonymous'

The hon. Ministerof Home Affairs has expressed the resolve of the country that the Indian peopleare united and determined to stamp out terrorism from the country. We would liketo approach this subject from that standpoint. On the 13^th ofDecember, there was a deliberate attack on the very foundation of our democraticpolity. We have already strongly condemned the incident of the 13^thof December.

In matters ofterrorism, we have always said that there could be no compromise. For the sakeof the country and the protection of the country against heinous offences liketerrorism, we should be together. I pay my homage to those who have laid downtheir lives to protect the important edifice of parliamentary democracy in thiscountry, namely the Parliament House.

Nothing new has beenreported in the statement of the hon. Minister of Home Affairs. Till today, theOpposition have to depend only on T.V. or newspapers. Is this the way you willfight untidily against this cult of terrorism and the danger of terrorism?Whenever the hon. Prime Minister has asked us, we have readily gone to hismeetings. We have to only depend on newspapers. I do not blame the media. It hasplayed a wonderful role. They risk their lives. It was a live telecast and fromthat really we came to know what was happening.

I would like to askfrom the hon. Prime Minister to point out where the Opposition has showed anylack of patriotism, though we are also given lectures on patriotism. Forget theOpposition, was the Speaker of the House taken into confidence? Was the hon.Chairman of the Rajya Sabha taken into confidence? Today, after the event youare speaking about the security measures in the House.

It is an attack on theParliament House. Let us sit together and find out what is to be done. From theafternoon of 13^th of December, we find special provisions being made,more security staff, armed police and what not. Could that not have been donebefore the 13^th or on the 13^th? The unarmed people hadcome up and they had to give up their lives to protect us. I do not know how toreally describe it; my words fail. I have no manner of doubt that nobody wouldhave dared to enter the precincts of this Parliament if there was such properarrangement. If it was our intelligence and if they trusted our intelligenceagencies, then immediate steps should have been taken. The hon. Deputy ChiefMinister of Maharashtra had warned the Government of India quite some time back.

On every stage, verycalculatedly, the Opposition parties in this House are being ignored by theGovernment of India. POTO was thought to be very very important and urgent. AnOrdinance can be passed only when immediate action is necessary and the House isnot sitting. I would like to know – what action has been taken under thisOrdinance? Has any Special Court been set up? Has any designated authority beenset up? Even the FIR that has been lodged on the basis of this incident is notunder POTO; it is under the ordinary law of the land.

I have heard on theTelevision that POTO is relevant only for the purpose of trial after arrest. Whyall this clamour as if we are the criminals and we are lacking in patriotismbecause we are opposing POTO? It has been in existence from 24^thOctober, 2001 and this incident occurred on 13^th December. How manydetentions have been made under this Ordinance? How many terrorist gangs havebeen busted? How many terrorists have been proceeded against under this law?

If the Government hadtaken the Opposition into confidence, then probably the framework of law couldhave been decided upon after due deliberations and suggestions. When you werehere, you criticised to the hilt the Acts like TADA. When I oppose POTO for someprinciple – may be I am misguided, may be I am wrong on my assessment. – butI cannot stand here and allow anybody to challenge my patriotism. Todaypatriotism and support of POTO have become synonymous. This is a tragedy of thiscountry that important matters are made controversial matters; important issuesconcerning the security of the country are made partisan issues.

Dr. Murli Manohar Joshiyesterday said all those who are opposing POTO are anti-nationals. Similarobservations are made by other Ministers also. I am not going into the merits ofPOTO, but Mr. Home Minister, you have very much POTO in your hands today. Withall your power, you could not stop five persons from entering the precincts ofParliament. We are not against taking all appropriate actions to destroy thisscourge of terrorism.

But do not forget todaythat apart from ourselves, our neighbour is also a nuclear country. Let usexhaust all the possible machinery before we take recourse to this. We have torouse the world opinion. Before any drastic action is taken – all pros andcons and every issue has to be properly considered. The hon. Home Minister hassaid that clinching evidence has been found. Give this material to others, seethat the world opinion is created in our favour. The former Chiefs of Staff haveadvised against this. Nothing has been indicated by the hon. Home Minister inhis statement and what the Government proposes to do.

The House has not beentaken into confidence at all. One section of the people are very studiouslybeing avoided and that is the Opposition of this country. The Government owes anexplanation to the nation.