BJP leaders renew GUJCOC demand

Ahmedabad, Jul 27 (UNI) The serial blasts in the city have once again brought the Gujarat Control of Organised Crime (GUJCOC) Bill to the fore, with top BJP leaders, including L K Advani and Narendra Modi, reiterating the demand for an early clearance of the Bill that has been pending with the Centre since June 2004.

Mr Advani, leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, has demanded that the Central government should approve the GUJCOC Bill to effectively counter terrorist activities.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi had earlier accused the UPA government of deliberately avoiding approval of the Bill, which was passed by the state assembly over three years ago, even as Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and other such anti-terror laws exist in states like Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Meanwhile, state BJP chief Purushottam Rupala blamed the absence of GUJCOC for strengthening the morals of terrorists.

UNI MP RN RJ AS1615