Reconsider POTO, says Paswan

patna: coal and mines minister ram vilas paswan has expressed serious reservations over the promulgation of prevention of terrorism ordinance (poto) by the centre maintaining that certain provisions of the ordinance appeared draconian, endangering the civil liberty of people. paswan told times news network that ordinance should have been promulgated after thorough deliberations in the national democratic alliance (nda) meeting. "my lok janshakti party is also a patriotic party. in the interest of the country, we are opposing harsh provisions in the poto," he added. according to him, his party will meet on the eve of parliament's winter session to take stock of harsh provisions in the ordinance and request the union government to reconsider it. at least one provision that anybody suspected of being a terrorist could be taken into custody immediately and no bail plea could be made for the next three months was most objectionable. "apart from that, what is also objectionable is that onus to prove that one is not a terrorist will lie on the suspected terrorist," he said. brushing aside bjp's stand that anybody opposing poto is supporting terrorist activities, paswan said the ordinance also had "strange provisions, which may ultimately affect freedom of the press." "any journalist meeting and talking to terrorists for his professional work will have to disclose source and whereabouts of terrorists. otherwise, he will also be booked," he said, adding that such a provision will block channel of information to the press, which highlights reasons behind "ills and evil influences", particularly among disgruntled elements, for reforming the society. according to paswan, the centre will have to think twice before implementing the ordinance. "we have bitter experience of seeing many good people, taking up arms and indulging in anti-national activities in jammu and kashmir because they were not properly heard in the last 50 years," he said. he reminded poto protagonists of the emergency regime of indira gandhi, "when many of us were branded anti-nationals". before taking such harsh measures, the centre must understand the hard reality and factors which push terrorists towards "ugly and anti-national activities", paswan said. on the abandoning of oil, coal, natural gas and other mines and minerals exploration in bihar, paswan allayed such apprehensions. he said exploration activities, instead, will be stepped up in the country, particularly in bihar. he contradicted the claim of experts on oil, coal, natural gas and other minerals that there is little possibility of finding these resources in the ganga and other river basins of north bihar. "there are definite reports that the ganga and other basins have possibility of mines and minerals and natural gas like in bombay high," paswan said. "there are many reports that some areas of present south bihar, including jamui, have high possibility of gold, if properly harnessed. there are reports about presence of sulphur and natural gas in the kosi basin," he added. paswan said that the geological survey of india (gsi), which is responsible for making arrangements for mines and mineral explorations, would continue to function in various parts of bihar. "its move to shift its offices will not be allowed," he added.