Advani congratulates Gujarat govt for busting terrorist network

New Delhi, Aug 16 (UNI) Senior BJP Leader and Leader of the Opposition L K Advani today congratulated Gujarat government for busting the pan-India terrorist network responsible for blasts in Ahmedabad and demanded the Centre to recommend immediate Presidential assent for the GCOCA.

''I heartily congratulate the government of Gujarat, and the state police in particular, for the important breakthrough they have achieved in busting a pan-India terrorist network responsible for the serial bomb blasts in Ahmedabad and other cities in the country,'' he said in a statement issued here.

The arrest of 10 SIMI activists, including Mufti Abu Bashir, the mastermind of the terror network, was indeed a major accomplishment, Mr Advani said.

He spoke to Chief Minister Narendra Modi and congratulated him for his government's success.

Praising the Modi government for its efforts, the Leader of the Opposition said,'' This success shows what a government determined to deal firmly with the menace of terrorism can achieve in a short time.'' Blaming the UPA Government at the Centre for the utter lack of clarity and will power in handling the threat of terrorism, he asked the Centre to recommend immediate Presidential assent for the Gujarat Control of Organised Crime Act (GCOCA), which has been pending with the Centre since June 2004.

''The UPA government's refusal to do so thus far has proved that it doggedly wants to pursue its policy of appeasement of terrorist elements in the country,'' Mr Advani alleged.

UNI MCN GT BD2255