Vajpayee convenes all-party meet on POTO today

Our Political Bureau

New Delhi, Dec 3: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced in the Lok Sabha on Monday that he would convene a meeting of all parties on Tuesday to sort out differences on the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO).

The ordinance rocked the House with Opposition and treasury benches trading charges during an hour-long impromptu debate during zero hour. Opposition members charged the government with unilaterally bringing the “draconian” law without consulting the Opposition. They also charged the Prime Minister with allegedly doubting the patriotism of the minorities and opposition parties at a meeting in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Denying the allegation, Mr Vajpayee asked the Opposition to avoid playing politics on terrorism which was threatening the country’s unity. He, however, conceded that it would have been better if the government had takeninto confidence the political parties before promulgating the ordinance adding that the government was willing to consider certain amendments to POTO.

Those who participated in the debate included Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav who raised the issue, CPM member Somnath Chatterjee, Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi and S Jaipal Reddy of Congress, Mayawati of BSP and VK Malhotra of BJP.

The opposition also flayed the government during a special discussion on Ayodhya under Rule 193. Member after member lambasted it for failure to protect the disputed site and sought to know how the government would ensure security of the place as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) had announced construction plans for the temple from March 12.

Congress member Dasmunshi, alleged that the Centre showed “inaction and lethargy” on the issue of the forcible entry as “courage” to arrest VHP leader Ashok Singhal even for 24 hours would have led to collapse of the government. Mr Yadav accused the BJP of consistently playing politics on Ayodhya for the sake of gaining power. He warned that any attempt to forcibly start any construction at the disputed site would be fraught with serious consequences.

Important business transacted in the upper House included approval of the Companies (Amendment) Bill which allows buyback of shares by companies. The Bill has already been passed by the Lok Sabha.
Replying to the debate, the law, justice and company affairs minister Arun Jaitley said the legislation would enhance liquidity in stock markets besides improving sentiments. Ever since the promulgation of ordinance on October 23, three companies had intimated to stock exchanges about their plans to buyback shares, he said.

The minister said as a step towards greater transparency, the price for buying back the shares had to be decided by the market and not the company. This would also help those investors who wanted to hold the scrip for more time as the value of shares tended to move upwards through creation of demand.