27 March 2002
The Washington Post
By Rama Lakshmi
NEW DELHI, March 26 – The Indian Parliament passed a tough and controversial anti-terrorism bill today in a rare joint session of the body’s two houses, turning aside protests by opposition members that the bill undermines civil rights and could be used to target the country’s 140 million Muslims.

The law, championed in the raucous session by the Hindu nationalist government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, gives the police broad powers to detain and try terror suspects, intercept their telephone and Internet communications and clamp down on their funding. Authorities have been exercising such powers by decree since October and now will get them permanently.

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India Passes Tough Anti-Terror Law Measure Gives Police Broad Powers; Critics Fear Its Use Against Muslim MinorityRead More »