BJP demands all-party meet to discuss terrorism

Hyderabad, Sep 19 (UNI) Welcoming Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's call for stringent laws to deal with terrorism'', the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) in Andhra Pradesh today demanded that the state government immediately convene an all-party meeting to discuss the issue.

In a letter to Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, a copy of which was released to the press here, BJP state unit President B Dattatreya urged the government to take seriously the threats by Mujahideen groups about future attacks and strengthen the police machinery, including the Organisation for Counter-terrorist Operations (OCTOPUS) and counter Intelligence cell.

He also urged the government to enact a legislation on the lines of the Maharashtra Organised Crimes (Prevention) Act, upheld by the Supreme Court.

He accused the ruling Congress government in the state of looking at the problem from the ''prism of religion'' and developing a mindset that any tough action against terrorism would hurt the sentiments of a section of the people.

Referring to the Prime Minister's call for greater coordination among states and strengthening existing laws to tackle terror, the former Union Minister wanted the Chief Minister to realise that the state did not have tough laws to give teeth to investigating agencies to preempt and prosecute terrorists.

He noted that almost in all cases of terrorist violence across the nation, the suspects had either been picked up from Andhra Pradesh or had visited the state for training. Hyderabad itself had witnessed terrorist attacks last year, which left 50 people dead.

He wanted the Chief Minister to issue a categorical statement that terrorism in any form or support to it in any way would not be tolerated.

UNI SM VA RL PM1519