Another round of Congress-BJP tussle over the POTA in on the cards with the AICC on Monday coming out against the saffron party’s direction to its state governments to enact POTA-like laws in states run by it. The Union cabinet meeting on Wednesday is likely to clear an ordinance for the repeal of POTA. Pointing out that Pota has been constantly misused, a new Bill will be introduced by the UPA government by amending the Criminal law to deal with terrorism firmly.
Questioning the decision at the BJP chief minister’s meeting to enact Pota-like legislation, Congress spokesman Mr Anand Sharma said: “The BJP chief ministers’ meet has decided to have POTA-type law in party-ruled states. It is for the first time that there will a separate law by states and the Centre to deal with terrorism... It is not desirable that the Centre and states have different laws pertaining to national security”.
Dismissing BJP’s assertion that repeal of POTA would weaken the fight against terrorism, Congress spokesman said the BJP (Bharat Jalao Party) was “deliberately” raking up such issues.
