Jaya against POTA repeal

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday opposed the Centre's decision to repeal the POTA and described it as "retrogate step that is bound to have disastrous consequences for the internal security situation in the country".

In a statement in Chennai, Jayalalithaa said she had written to the chief ministers of all states to take up the matter with the Centre and oppose the "unilateral decision".

The repeal of Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) directly undermines the state government's ability to coutner terrorism.

As the law and order was a state subject, the unilateral decision of the Centre to repeal it without consulting with state governments and without a national debate had to be opposed by all states, she said.

She said repeal of POTA would denude the state governments of their powers to combat terrorism.

To repeal the Act would mean that the law enforcement agencies would not have any special law at their disposal to effectively tackle terrorist and extermist outfits.