BJP demands POTA re-imposition

Bangalore, Feb 7 : Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Venkaiah Naidu has slammed the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for being soft on terror and demanded the re-imposition of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA).

"Latest reports say Lashkar-e-Toiba activists have set up camps in Karnataka and they have links with the Taliban in Afghanistan. There is a spurt in LTTE activities in Tamil Nadu. The government recently warned that there is a risk of attack on BJP's senior leaders L K Advani and Narendra Modi. Earlier, we heard that some people were trying to kidnap Rahul Gandhi. Now, even Mayawati says she is scared for her life," Naidu said.

National Security Advisor M K Narayanan had warned earlier this week that terrorists might carry out fidayeen attacks on Advani's election-related rallies this month.

Last month, intelligence agencies had warned BJP president Rajnath Singh that he was being targeted by Pakistan-based terrorists, which led the Centre to ask the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Government in Uttar Pradesh to beef up his security.

Both Advani and Singh have Special Protection Group and Z-plus security with National Security Guard cover.

The BJP has maintained that the UPA Government at the Centre does not having a clear policy to fight terrorism in the country.

POTA was enacted by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) but drew flak for allegedly being abused to settle political scores and, in some states, to target Muslim community.

It was adopted in 2002, in the wake of the December 13, 2001 parliament raid by militants fighting India's rule in Kashmir.

POTA set strict rules for arrest, interrogation and investigation and allowed suspects to be detained for 30 days without producing them before a court.

The Congress party, which stormed to power in May 2004, riding high on a secularist and pro-poor wave, repealed the law to keep its poll promise.

ANI