Indian House repeals Pota
India's parliament Monday approved a repeal of a controversial anti-terror law introduced after the September 11 attacks, which critics said had been misused to persecute minorities.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government, that came into office on May 22, had promised in its policy roadmap that it would withdraw the Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota), pushed through parliament by the previous Hindu nationalist government.
In September, Singh's government announced scrapping of the law, which Monday received formal parliamentary approval, the Press Trust of India news agency said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Singh's government has said the repealed act will be replaced by a new law.
Critics had said the act was abused by officials to settle personal scores. It was also blamed for the persecution of Muslims during sectarian rioting in Gujarat state in 2002, in which at least 2,000 people died.
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