Restore POTA: BJP tells UPA government

New Delhi, Jan 28 (UNI) The BJP today alleged that the naxalite violence and 'jehadi' terrorism had increased in the country since the Congress-led and Left-supported UPA government came to power at the Centre, and sought restoration of an anti-terror law like POTA to keep a strong check on such subversive activities.

In his presidential address at the two-day BJP national council meeting here, party chief Rajnath Singh claimed that terrorism was acquiring stability in India.

''Naxalite terrorism has become particularly problematic in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. Since this government (UPA) assuming office, jehadi terrorism has literally spread its feet all over the country.'' Over the past three years, the BJP president said there have been terrorist attacks virtually on all prominent cities which were considered to be the country's political, economic, intellectual, cultural and nationalist centres.

''Now even religious centres and places of worship are being targeted in a ruthless manner,'' he added.

Mr Singh said the time has finally come for the central government to correct its past mistakes, and for effectively controlling terrorism once again enact POTA.

''If they (UPA government) have a problem with POTA merely because it was enacted during the tenure of the BJP government, then let them by any other name introduce an anti-terror law in Parliament,'' he added.

The BJP chief further said that in absence of an anti-terror law, asking security forces to fight terrorists was an unequal and a destructive battle, in which the self-confidence of terrorists increases and that of the security forces reduces.

''We will never let this happen.'' He assured that the BJP would support any move by the central government to introduce an anti-terror law in Parliament.

''If after the elections we form the government at the Centre, then we will restore POTA for the security of the country,'' the BJP president asserted.

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