1. Repeal of POTA

The UPA Government has been concerned with the manner in which POTA has been misused. However, there will be no compromise in the fight against terrorism. In this context, the Government has promulgated Prevention of Terrorism (Repeal) Ordinance, 2004, on 21.9.2004 and repealed POTA, 2002. Alongside, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Ordinance, 2004 promulgated on 21.9.2004 incorporates provisions for dealing with the various facets of terrorism.

Overall security scenario has improved significantly with less number of terrorism related incidents reported in the last six months. Number of terrorist related incidents came down to 1102 between June-October 2004 as compared to 1619 in the corresponding period last year. There has been perceptibly lower level of violence resulting in revival of tourism giving a major boost to the economy. The Kashmir valley saw the arrival of about 2.7 lakh tourists upto September 2004, the highest so far in 15 years of turmoil in the State. Amarnath Yatra went incident free and a record number of 400,000 pilgrims had darshan this year at Sri Amarnathji Shrine. With improvement in the security scenario, Government has decided to reduce troops in Jammu & Kashmir.

The law & order situation in Manipur had deteriorated due to the alleged rape and killing of a PLA activist by Assam Rifles on 11^th July, 2004. The situation was continuously reviewed by Government of India and adequate timely help was provided to the State Government to restore normalcy. Situation is now under control. A Unified Headquarter has been set up in Manipur for coordinated operations by security forces against militant outfits. A delegation of Apunba Lup leaders which has been spearheading the agitation for repeal of the AFSPA, met the PM and the HM in the first week of November, 2004. A five member Committee headed by Justice Jeevan Reddy, a former judge of the Supreme Court has been set up to review the provisions of the Armed Forces(Special Powers) Act, 1958.

The existing ceasefire between the Government of India and the NSCN(I/M) has been extended upto 31^st July, 2005. The last round of talks was held in Bangkok in October, 2004 and NSCN(I/M) leaders have agreed to hold further talks in India.

The existing ceasefire with one faction of United People’s Democratic Solidarity(UPDS) led by Shri Horensing Bey, General Secretary has been extended upto31.07.2005.

The existing ceasefire with Dima Halam Daogah (DHD), a militant outfit in Assam has been extended upto 31.12.2004.

The existing ceasefire with a faction of National Liberation Front of Twipra (Nayanbasi Group) has been extended upto 31^st December, 2004.

An agreement for suspension of operation between security forces and Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC), a militant outfit in Meghalaya, has been entered into and is valid upto 22.01.2005.

Chief Ministers’ Conference on Naxalism was held at Hyderabad on 21.9.2004. It was inter alia decided to pursue a coordinated approach and conduct a peace dialogue to strengthen peace and tranquility and reduce reliance of naxal groups on armed struggle, accelerate development activities in naxal areas including tribal areas, generate employment opportunities and effective implementation of land reforms, speedy disposal of revenue cases, sustained & effective police action wherever required etc. A Task Force on naxalism was constituted in the MHA on October 7, 2004, under the Chairmanship of Special Secretary to deliberate upon the entire gamut of steps needed to deal with the naxalite situation. During its first meeting held on November 9, 2004, the Task force took some important decisions including prompt and regular exchange of information/actionable intelligence, regular interaction among nodal officers of the naxal affected States and neutralizing funding channels available to naxalite outfits.

6. Law on Communal Violence

The Home Ministry is working at a fast pace on formulating a draft law on communal violence. The Home Minister has taken several meetings in this regard and an approach paper has been finalized. The proposed law is expected to focus on the procedure for investigation and trial of the crimes related to communal violence, relief and rehabilitation measures and the mechanism for speedy control of law and order in the affected areas.

During May to October, 2004 an assistance of Rs.501.33 crore has been released by the Central Government to the affected States so far from the National Calamity Contingency Fund for flood management. This is over and above the 75% contribution made by the Central Government to the respective State Calamity Relief Funds. Norms for CRF and NCCF have also been amended enhancing the quantum of assistance for relief employment and cattle care. In addition, the norms were amended to provide agricultural input subsidy to farmers other than small and marginal farmers. Earlier, this subsidy was admissible only in the case of small and marginal farmers.

It has been decided to reconstitute the National Integration Council. A notification in this regard is expected to be issued shortly.

A notification creating a new category of ‘Classical Languages’ and declaring Tamil as a ‘classical language’ has been issued.

10. Promotion of Hindi

A software for learning Hindi through Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu was launched. The learner can learn free of cost and online Probodh, Praveen and Pragya courses which are available on the website of the Department of Official Language. The Department organized 56 training programmes for work in Hindi on computer between May 2004 and October 2004.