India amends anti-terror law

The attack on parliament was blamed on Kashmiri militants

The Indian Government has made some changes to a controversial anti-terrorism law in a bid to defuse opposition to it in parliament.

The cabinet has approved the re-promulgation of the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (Poto) with certain amendments

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan

The Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (Poto) is designed to give the authorities greater powers to combat threats from extremist groups.

However, all the major opposition parties have condemned the legislation as draconian, arguing it could jeopardise civil liberties and adversely affect minority communities.

The Congress Party has described the latest changes as "cosmetic" and said its opposition to the law will continue.

MPs disrupted the last session of parliament on a number of occasions to demonstrate their opposition to the new measures.

Amendments

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan told journalists that the government had decided to re-issue the law, but reduce its term of operation from five to three years.

The security forces want enhanced powers

Another change is the deletion of a particular clause under which a person can be punished for failing to disclose information that could be of assistance in preventing a terrorist act.

A controversial clause, which the opposition says could affect the freedom of the press, has now been dropped.

Under the Indian constitution, the government can issue legislation for a limited period without having parliamentary approval.

The legislation will be not be put before parliament until the next session starts in February.

Fighting terror

The decree is intended to give more powers to the security forces to curb terrorism.

A total of 23 organisations have been banned under the order, including Kashmir militant groups Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen.

The first two groups have been linked with this month's attack on the Indian parliament, in which 14 people died.

Membership of a banned organisation will constitute a terrorist act under the legislation.

The legislation also makes it an offence to finance terrorism or possess unauthorised arms or explosives.

Critics have said that the law will make it easier for the authorities to arrest members of minority groups and the press.

The government says the law is necessary to counter extremism, especially after the 11 September attacks in the United States.