Can LeT operatives be punished without POTA? BJP asks Congress

New Delhi, Feb 12 (UNI) Condemning relief packages for the dependents of terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP today asked the Congress to spell out how it proposed to punish the six Lashkar-e-Toiba militants who had confessed to their roles in the attack on Rampur CRPF camp, and revealed plans to attack the Bombay Stock Exchange and the Church Gate Station without an anti-terror law like POTA.

BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said of the six LeT operatives, including three Pakistan nationals, arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police had confessed to their role in the attack on CRPF camp, attack on Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, besides admitting to their plans to attack places in Mumbai.

If POTA were to be in statute books, these confessions would have been treated as evidence, but the first thing the Congress-led UPA did was repeal the law without any alternative legislative support to deal with terror. Now India is the only country which does not have an anti-terror law despite losing thousands of innocent lives, he added.

He alleged that the Congress could not fight terror without a proper law, political and diplomatic response because it was tied down with vote bank politics.

He said the Jammu and Kashmir Government's decision to announce a package for the families of terrorists was only tantamount to rewarding the terrorists killing brave soldiers and innocent citizens. No country in the world can come out with such a bizarre scheme, he said.

Touching upon the issue of attacks on migrants in Mumbai by the activists of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Mr Javadekar said the BJP had clarified that the Constitution allowed every citizen to live and work anywhere in the country. The Congress, which has alliance with Raj Theckeray's MNS in six municipal corporations, including Mira-Bhayander, should clarify if they would continue with their truck with the MNS.

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