BJP revives demand for a stringent law to deal with militancy

Chennai/Lucknow, July 29 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reemphasized the need for a stringent law to deal with militancy.

Senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh blamed the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) for the government's failure to deal with militancy.

"I am asking that POTA is part of the creation of proper environment. You must have a serious enough attitude towards such an attack on India. How many times the Prime Minister or the Home (Interior) Minister just in the last 60 days has said every time Indian citizens have been killed, they have said our heart goes (with the victims' families). I don't think they have any heart left, any mode to go out to anybody," said Singh.

Following last week's serial blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, there have been calls to reinstate an anti-terrorism law that the Congress-led Central Government scrapped after it came to power in 2004.

The law was criticised for giving police too many powers to detain people without charge and allowing the abuse of government opponents.

Meanwhile, dozens of Muslims in Lucknow staged a protest against the serial blasts and later burnt an effigy of 'terrorism'.

"The act of militants is wrong and they are not pardon worthy," said Ali Abbas, a protestor.

ANI