BOMBAY: Union internal Security Minister Rajesh Pilot on Aug.21 said the Center would not hesitate to repeal the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) when it comes up for renewal next year.
He said this was in view of complaints of misuse of the Act Particularly to harass those (rom the minority communities.
The Minister was speaking at a Meeting before the inauguration of an Id-Milad procession at the _ All- India Khilafat Committee promises in center Bombay. The Procession was flagged off by ‘Union Railway Minister Jaffer Sharief .
The meet turned into a forum for Complaints by Muslim intellectuals, lawyers, religious leaders aid Congress workers, who drew the Minister’s attention to the alleged misuse of TADA with particular reference to those detainees accused of participating in the December 1992 and January 1993 riots In Bombay, and victimization of minorities.
Mr. Pilot assured them that he would come back to Bombay within & month to go over Individual cases and hold meetings with whomever desired f0 apprise him of the situation. He said the Process of reviewing TADA cases, in connection with the riots had Already boon initiated and he had Written personal letters to various Chief of ministers to prevent its misuse all over the country.
Mr. Pilot avoided a question by Maulana Kashmiri who pointed Out that the accused undergoing that in the bomb blasts case were: being charged with waging a war against India when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Counsel said in the blasts were perpetrated as an act of revenge for the demolition of the Babri Masjid by Hindu fanatics. Pilot Saidhe bid not read the charge sheet but felt that the Babri Masjid episode had brought shame to the ¥ tire generation to ‘WIPE OUL,” he added.
It was also pointed out to him that the Uttar Pradesh Government had withdrawn cases against those who participated in the demolition.
Pilot said that while the State look its own decisions regarding criminals the Center did not hesitate to book offenders and pointed out the recent arrest of Yakub Memon.
Parrying a question regarding the controversy over how and from where Memon was arrested, he said it was enough that he had been arrested.
The cases put before Pilot included screening Of the TADA ‘Cases relating to the riots, streamlining the hearing of a huge number Of cases at the designated TADA count, hearing Hot cases where an accused had to wall for months to have his bail application heard, inquiry into police excesses and bringing to book police personnel found guilty.
They also include compensation to families of 18 Muslims reported missing in the riots When it was Clear that they had died in the riots Or were victims of police excesses, compensation from the State authorities to TADA detainees languishing in Jails once their innocence was proved and also Compensation to victims whose property was looked or burned down.
There were even complaints regarding cases pertaining to the bomb blasts filed by Raigadh police. They also pointed out that a Police officer against whom there was a case in a Ralgadh court for excesses had recently been awarded a police medal after he was shifted to Bombay.
“Give me a month to come back to take down all the details, when Twill be able to initiate action.”
“I do not want the minorities to feel that there is injustice against them.” he added. Meanwhile, Pilot justified steps taken by the Kamataka Government to prevent BJP volunteers from hoisting the national flag at the disputed Idgah Maidan in Hubil on Aug.15.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 26, 1994
