Scrapping of POTA has sent wrong signal: Advani

Charoti, Maharashtra, Apr 9 (UNI) Criticising the scrapping of Prevention of Terrorist Activities (POTA) Act by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on the ground that it was 'anti-minority', senior BJP leader L K Advani said it was a deterrent against the terrorist activities.

Addressing a rally of tribals here during the course of his Bharat Suraksha Yatra, Mr Advani said POTA came into effect after the serial blasts at Coimbatore in February 1998, where he had gone to address a public rally.

''This yatra is for a different purpose. It is not for elections or any other purpose but to contact the common people,'' he said.

The former BJP president said he had earlier undertaken two such yatras--the Swarna Jayanti Rath Yatra in 1997 and the Rath Yatra in 1991.

While the former was meant to mark India's golden jubilee Independence celebrations, the latter was a political yatra, he added.

The purpose of this yatra, he reiterated, was to ''only appraise citizens about terrorist activities prevalling in the country and how to overcome them.'' UNI XR0KU SSS YA RK2132