Indian lawmakers approved an anti-terrorism bill at a rare joint session of parliament Tuesday despite strong opposition.
The Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance sets strict rules for arrest, interrogation and investigation. It also allows suspects to be held for 30 days without appearing before a court.
Opposition parties and human-rights groups complained it could be used to harass innocent people and to target minority Muslims or opponents of the government.
The bill received 425 votes in favor and 296 votes against, after a stormy debate of nearly 10 hours. The joint session was only the third combined meeting of the upper and lower houses to consider a bill since India gained independence in 1947, and the first since 1978.
The bill was narrowly defeated last week in the upper house, where Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s fractious coalition is in a minority.
