Advani advocates POTA's revival

Bhopal, July 16: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani today asserted that the Centre should consider the revival of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) for effectively combating terrorism.

''The BJP is ready to support the Centre in the interest of country if it announces to bring POTA back during the first day of monsoon session,'' said Mr Advani, while addressing a public meeting organised by BJP workers, against terrorism.

BJP workers organised a rally after the public meeting, staged demonstration in front of the Raj Bhawan and submitted a memorandum to Governor Balram Jakhar.

Describing the recent serial blasts that shook Mumbai killing at least 200 people and injuring about 700 others as first of its kind in the world, Mr Advani held Pakistan responsible for the blasts.

''Untill Pakistan stops fostering terrorism, no dialogues should be held with that country,'' he said, welcoming the calling off of Foreign Secretary-level talks with the neighbouring country.

''The Centre must expose these activities being carried out by Pakistan and build up international pressure to declare Pakistan a terrorist state,'' Mr Advani said.

Expressing serious concern over rising incidents of terrorism, the BJP leader said terrorism could not be tackled without implementing strong laws.

''America had taken the attack on the World Trade Center not as an incident of terrorism but as an attack on the country,'' Mr Advani said, adding that the then NDA Government had enforced POTA on the advise of the United Nations. ''By repealing the POTA, the Congress-led UPA Government has sent a message to terrorists that it was not capable of fighting them,'' he said, adding that this has emboldened terrorist organisations like Al-Qaeda, which have set up terror modules in the country.

Attacking the Centre's soft policies for increase in terrorism, the BJP leader said though the country was facing serious challenges, the UPA Government was busy in party politics.

Taking a dig at the Centre's policies, Mr Advani accused the Congress of abandoning policies being practiced by previous governments under pressure from allies.

He quipped that on one hand the Congress was making statements that the BJP had become a spent force but on the other hand it was afraid of seeking fresh mandate.

Mr Advani said the two-year-old UPA Government was devoid of achievements and its policies has put common man in danger. Rising prices has made life difficult. However, people would forgive these wrong policies, if the Centre brought POTA back to tackle the menace of terrorism. Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi stressed on the need for a debate for ending terrorism in the country.

He accused Pakistan of attacking economic, cultural and spiritual centres in a bid to destabilise the country He referred to the attacks of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Sankatmochan Hanuman temple in Varanasi, IISC in Bangalore and Mumbai train blasts in this regard.

Dr Joshi said the Centre must raise these Pakistan-sponsored activities with proof on the international stage and build pressure putting an end to Pakistan's nuclear programme.

''Those who spread terror in the name of 'jehad' must not be linked with a particular region,'' he said, lamenting that 'jehad' was being used for politics, which was not in the interest of the country.

He pointed out that a state's Chief Minister has described outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) as a nationalist organisation and announced to withdraw all pending cases against it.

Dr Joshi called for the need to formulate a common policy under which people involved in anti-nation activities would be strictly dealt with.

Earlier, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said Madhya Pradesh will not allow terrorists to strike roots in the state.

BJP President Satyanarain Jatia also addressed the programme.

UNI