BJP demands stringent anti-terror law

Hyderabad, Sep 23 (UNI) Mounting a scathing attack on the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government for unabated terrorist strikes across the country, senior Bharatiya Janata Party Leader M Venkaiah Naidu today demanded the enactment of a piece of legislation more stringent than the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) to curb the menace.

Mr Naidu, addressing the party's 'Telangana Sankalp' rally at Pattancheru on the city's outskirts, alleged that the Manmohan Singh Government was adopting a 'soft' attitude towards the menace of terrorism. That was why the terrorists got emboldened and are striking at will in different parts of the country, he claimed.

''The country needs a more stringent law than the POTA'', he opined.

While those involved in the Parliament attack case were either killed or arrested swiftly by the previous Vajpayee Government, there was not much progress in investigation into major terror attacks, including the last year's bomb blasts in the Mecca Masjid, Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat in Hyderabad, which had turned into a terror-hub.

Referring to state politics, he predicted a hung assembly after the elections. Either the ruling Congress or the main opposition TDP or the fledgling Praja Rajyam party floated by matinee idol Chiranjeevi would be able to win a majority of seats on their own to form the next government, he contended.

UNI SM IG SR MIR KP1945