GUJCOC Bill issue will be taken up in Parliament: Rupani

Rajkot, Sep 2 (UNI) Criticising the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government for not passing the Gujarat Control of Organised Crime (GUJCOC) anti-terror bill, BJP Rajya Sabha Member Vijay Rupani said the Party will now take up the issue in Parliament.

Speaking to UNI, Mr Rupani said a similar tough law to curb organised crime and acts of terror was in existence in Maharashtra, while Gujarat Assembly had passed the GUJCOC bill in this regard in 2003, but the Central Government has not yet approved the same.

''We will raise the issue in Parliament and pursue the matter for immediate approval,'' Mr Rupani said.

In reply to another question, Mr Rupani welcomed the decision of reallocating the land to the Amarnath Shrine Board by the Jammu and Kashmir state government.

The land was restored to the shrine board on Sunday by the government for use ''exclusively'' during the pilgrimage period. The MP said it was a victory of the people of Jammu and Hindu Samaj over the forces of injustice. Mr Rupani alleged that the withdrawal of the land given to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board was a clear case of ''appeasement'' of Muslims by the Congress.

He also alleged that Congress had raked up a controversy by withdrawing the land, due to which large-scale violence was witnesses in Jammu and Kashmir.

UNI AV SR GL AS1707