NEW DELHI: Ten Civil liberals and democratic rights organizations have decided to launch a joint campaign to demand the scrapping of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Preventive) Act (TADA).
Announcing this at a press conference, Balagopal of Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committed (APCLC), said which these organizations have been agitating against TADA in their respective regions they now felt the need for a joint campaign against TADA at the national level, and hence were making this efforts.
Reacting to the statement made by Prime Minister, Narasimha Rao, and other ministers, that a few provisions of TADA can be amended and the promise that the misuse of TADA be stopped. Balagopal said that the Act should be scrapped in to.
“TADA is not an act intended to suppress terrorism. It is an Act which makes a crime the holding and practicing of political beliefs that the rulers do not like,” he said. The organizations will also compile comprehensive data on the way TADA has been used by the Government. This will include collating data on the number of people affected by TADA and “focus on the way it is used and the persons against whom it is used.” Balagopal said.
Alleging that the Act itself is a misuse of legislative powers of the Parliament, Balagopal said that when the Act comes up for extension this summer, these organizations will hold a big rally in Delhi and meet Members of Parliament and ask them to vote against TADA.
The prominent organizations which have decided to launch a “Democratic Rights Campaign against TADA.” apart from APCLC, are Peoples Union for Democratic Rights-Delhi. Manab Adhikar Sangram Sangram Samiti-Assam and People’s Rights Organization of Delhi.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 13, 1995
