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India adopts new anti-terrorism measures.

India has adopted a controversial anti-terrorism bill, in a rare joint session of parliament.

The government says the bill is a response to December's deadly attack on the parliament in New Delhi .. as South Asia correspondent Jonathan Harley reports.

In an emotional and at times rowdy joint session of parliament, the Indian Government has had its controversial prevention of terrorism ordenance or POTO enshrined in law. It gives police sweeping powers of arrest and interogation as well as the right to intercept communications. A suspect can be detained for up to 90 days without trial. The Bill was bitterly opposed by opposition parties and human rights groups, concerned that it could be used to oppress political opponents as well as India's Muslim minority. Its only the third time a joint session has been held since India's independance in 1947. Knowing it had a comfortable majority with the combined count of both chambers, the government called the joint session after the Bill was rejected by the Upper House last week. Jonathan Harley, New Delhi.

27/03/2002 10:04:20 | ABC Radio Australia News

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