BJP misused POTA blatantly: Cong

Ajmer, Aug 4 (UNI) Union minister of state in PMO Prithviraj Chauhan today said the NDA government led by BJP had misused POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) deliberately to target a specific community during its regime.

Refuting BJP charges that UPA government is soft towards terrorist organisations, he told reporters here that Centre is highly concerned over the increasing terrorist attacks in the country and has taken many important steps to stop such incidents.

He said: ''But BJP which is making much noise over POTA now, blatantly misused it to target a specific community during its rule.

Thousands of innocent people were jailed during the NDA regime against whom the courts have not been able to produce any evidence till now.'' Reacting to the increasing levels of pesticide found in the colas Mr Chauhan said it is a matter of grave concern if the report is true. He said the Centre has placed the matter in the Parliament under the Food Security Act.

Describing former minister Jaswant Singh's revelation of a mole in the PMO during Narasimha Rao's regime, Mr Chauhan said Mr Jaswant Singh's sensational relavations only wasted Parliament's precious time instead of bringing out the truth. After Prime Minister's comment on the issue, there's nothing left to be said on the entire episode, he said.

He said the progress in the Nuclear Energy Project would depend on the agreement between India and USA. Only after the deal is inked, can the raw material and equipment required for the project be imported.

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