Venkaiah demands restoration of POTA

Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, Nov 5 (UNI) Alleging that the UPA Government was totally ignoring internal security, BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu today demanded that the Prevention of Terrorist Activities (POTA) be immediately revived.

Addressing a conference of party activists organised here, in connection with the ensuing Legislative Council elections, he said the UPA Government should revive POTA in view of the increasing terrorist activities and the continuing attack on the sovereignty of India.

He said if the government was shy of restoring the Act, it should introduce a similar bill to effectively contain terrorism.

Stating that the centre had failed in all sectors, Naidu said, "It was trying to accord clemency to Afzal, who is convicted in the Parliament attack case it would lead to further increase in terrorist and ISI activities." Alleging that the state government was manipulating the Legislative Council elections by enrolling their own men as voters, he said there was no publicity as to how to enroll as voter from the Graduates Constituency.

He also demanded that Sarpanchs should be given voting right in the elections to the Upper House. He said unless they were given the voting right, the voice of the local bodies would go unheard in the Council.

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