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Introducing the measure, Advani said terrorism was a serious challenge facing the country and, therefore, there was need for more stringent laws to tackle the menace.
Assuring the House that the measure would be used only for tackling terrorism 'sparingly and not casually', he appealed to all political parties, especially the Congress, to help pass it unanimously and expressed the government's readiness to consider amendments to the legislation.
Driving home his point, he said after the September 11 terror strikes in the US, democracies the world over have enacted far more stringent laws and 'it is not that they have abandoned human rights'.
Arguing that the present laws are inadequate while dealing with the nature of the threat arising out of terrorism, he said several states were feeling handicapped after the lapse of the Terrorism and Disruptive Activities (prevention) Act (TADA).
Dissatisfied with the minister's assurances, opposition members, including those of the Congress, Left parties and the Samajwadi Party, contended that the measure was a 'flagrant violation of fundamental rights'.
They staged a noisy walkout after some of their objections to the introduction of the bill were negated by a voice vote. The AIADMK did not join the walkout.
Responding to opposition members' contention that even POTO could not prevent the terror attack on Parliament, Advani said, "There are laws against murder and rape but they have not prevented these crimes from taking place. Laws are intended to see that those who commit crimes are brought to book."
When some members pointed out that he had opposed TADA when he was in the Opposition, Advani said the Act was misused and in Gujarat even farmers were booked under it.
The Bill to replace POTO could not be tabled in the Lok Sabha during the winter session in the face of strong protests by the opposition.
Under the re-promulgated POTO, the sunset clause for the operation of the Bill has been reduced from five to three years while certain changes have been made in connection with the bail provisions.
Twenty-five terrorist organisations have been banned so far under the provisions of POTO.
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