ATSs should be given army rights: Togadia

Indore, Sep 19 (UNI) Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) general secretary Praveen Togadia today said Anti-Terrorist Squads (ATSs) should be given special rights comparable to the Army.

''I also believe that the army and state police forces are fully capable of combating militancy. The police and ATSs should be provided special equipment and there should be no paucity of personnel or funds. The country's security is supreme and should be kept away from politics,'' he told mediapersons here.

Alleging that several Indian 'madrasas' were imparting jihadi training to children, Mr Togadia added that the government should immediately close down such madrasas and adopt a hardline stance against those imparting such training. Regarding the recent wave of blasts, the VHP leader said no matter which state was targeted or which party's regime was in power, it was the commonman who got affected.

''The Centre should immediately enact legislation more stringent than the POTA. India should strengthen its position by executing Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru forthwith,'' he said.

UNI XC-AC SK NS1832