The tough anti-terror law Prevention of Terrorism Act will be repealed during the current session of Parliament resuming on Monday.

This was decided at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Information and Broadcasting Minister S Jaipal Reddy told reporters in Delhi on Tuesday.

A bill repealing POTA would be introduced in the second part of the budget session of Parliament beginning on August 16. The decision is in keeping with the promise in the Common Minimum Programme of the United Progressive Alliance.

Even if the bill for repealing POTA is not taken up for consideration before the budget session adjourns, the Act will be allowed to lapse in October.

However, the sources said, if POTA is repealed or allowed to lapse, security agencies would find it difficult to arrest those who engage in financing anti-national activities in the country.

While the Congress-led UPA government is firm in its commitment to repeal POTA it does not want anti-national elements to take advantage of it.

Hence, a new law is under consideration to replace POTA. It deals with various aspects that needed to be incorporated in the Criminal Procedure Code to curb militant activities and their sources of funding.

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