Modi criticises UPA for its ''soft'' stand on terrorism

Ahmedabad, Oct 1 (UNI) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today criticised the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for adopting a ''soft'' stance on terrorism and alleged that it is also ''sympathetic'' towards the perpetrators of terror attacks.

He made this statement while participating in the foundation-laying ceremony of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's (AMC) new south zone office in Maninagar here.

In an official release, Mr Modi alleged that the request by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to pardon the terrorists who were not only involved in an attack on the Parliament but also sentenced to death by the country's highest court, was a clear reflection of the ''sympathetic'' attitude adopted by the UPA government and the Congress.

''Terrorism must be tackled without showing any mercy. It has become a bane not only to our country but has gripped the world. Our security forces are struggling against great odds in fighting the scourge of terrorism. And it was during this crucial phase that the UPA government has decided to scrap Prevention of Terrorism Activities Act (POTA), which was the bugbear for terrorists,'' he remarked.

With the expansion of AMC, which has taken over additional 192 sq km by merging many panchayats and Auda areas, it has now under its jurisdiction 470 sq km. With the south zone office of the AMC to take shape soon, the cost of bringing this about would sum up to Rs 308 crore, he added.

Mr Modi, who also laid foundation for Naroda-Kubernagar railway underpass here, said after the completion of this underpass, it would resolve serious traffic bottlenecks.

UNI VNB SSS DKA KP2036