Advani stresses reintroduction of POTA

Jaipur, May 14: Blaming the UPA government at the Centre for its ''dismal record'' in its fight against terrorism, BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani today stressed the need for reintroduction of POTA.

Addressing a press conference here Mr Advani said the UPA government's weak response due to vote bank consideration, had emboldened terrorists and now the government and the people were required to exhibit attitude of zero tolerance against the menace of terrorism. Mr Advani said the withdrawal of POTA by the UPA government had done immense harm by not only impairing the capacity of law enforcing agencies but also demoralising them, more sinisterly, by sending wrong message to terrorists about our national resolve to fight and finish them.

The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha in the context of the serial bomb blasts in Jaipur yesterday said, reintroduction of POTA was the need of the hour as it was one of the several legal, political and administrative measures that must be taken to strengthen India in its war against terrorism.

Commenting over dismissal of mercy petition of Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru by the Supreme Court today, Mr Advani said that now UPA government should convey a strong message to terrorists by immediately executing the capital punishment awarded to Afzal.

Condemning the serial blasts here Mr Advani said the same was calculated crime against humanity, which is barbaric and sinister.

Mr Advani accompanied by Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Jaswant Singh, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and BJP general secretary Gopinath Munde visited the SMS Hospital and spots of the blasts.

He praised the effective dealing of situation by the state government and performance of the medical personnel and police force.

UNI