NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
An all-party meeting to evolve a consensus on the proposed anti-terror Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance will be held on November 20, officials said on Sunday.
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee called for an all-party meet after a conference of chief ministers failed to come to an agreement over the proposed legislation.
The all-party meeting has been called on the second day of the winter session of Parliament, which begins on Monday.
While the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies have thrown their weight behind the controversial ordinance, the main opposition Congress, which rules 11 states, and Left parties, have announced that their chief ministers would oppose POTO.
The Congress opposition to the proposed legislation would hamper the passage of the bill replacing the ordinance in the Rajya Sabha where the BJP-led coalition does not enjoy a majority.
The BJP is banking on the support of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalitha's AIADMK and the Bahujan Samaj Party, with which the BJP has a tacit understanding for post-poll alliance in Uttar Pradesh.
If all else fails, the government is also mulling over a joint session of both Houses to push the bill through.
Indo-Asian News Service
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
Call India
