BJP blames Congress for revoking POTA

Ahmedabad/Lucknow/ New Delhi, Sept 22 : Stepping up its pressure on the UPA Government on the issue of terror, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has blamed it for revoking a tough anti-terror law.

"The first step this Manmohan Singh Government did after coming into power was revoking the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA)," said senior BJP leader LK Advani at a public rally in Ahmedabad.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has called for tough measures to tackle terrorism.

"Our government believes that if terrorism has to be rooted out from the country then the Central Government will have to take tough steps. It will also have to ensure that all the State Governments act tough," Mayawati said.

Condemning the Delhi blasts, a Muslim organisation staged a candlelight vigil in New Delhi last evening.

"We want to convey this message that terrorism should be rooted out. Muslim community is with the nation in its fight against terror. We members of the Muslim community salute Mohan Chand Sharma who was killed by the militants during Friday's encounter and pledge that Muslims are also ready to sacrifice their lives for the country," said Mohammad Shakeel Saifi, an activist of the All India Muslim Youth Anti-Terrorism Committee.

Earlier, Delhi Police Joint Commissioner (Special Cell) Karnal Singh said that interrogation of Mohammad Saif, who was arrested during Friday's encounter, revealed their involvement in the Varanasi blast.

"Saif's further investigations have revealed that they were also behind the Sankatmochan Temple blast in Varanasi," said Singh.

At least nine people were killed in Varanasi in November 2007.

Members of the gang are also suspected to have been involved in the Ahmedabad, Surat and Jaipur bombings.

Delhi Police on Sunday claimed that the terror module was planning to explode at least 20 bombs in several places in the national capital, including Nehru Place.

The Delhi Police also revealed that the Indian Mujahideen had planned serial blasts in Goa, which was to be the next target of the ultras.

On Saturday, the Delhi Police had claimed that they have uncovered the conspiracy behind the attacks in New Delhi, Jaipur and Ahmedabad saying terrorists of Indian Mujahideen and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) in league with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba carried them out.

ANI