The Hindu : National : Revoking POTA wrong: Advani

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Monday, Sep 12, 2005

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Revoking POTA wrong: Advani

"No country safe from terrorism"

NEEMUCH (MP): : Bharatiya Janata Party president L. K. Advani lashed out at the Centre for revoking POTA saying the move by the UPA Government was drawn from "vote-bank politics."

"The previous NDA Government brought in POTA to keep terrorism under check. The UPA Government's move to revoke it was drawn from vote-bank politics,'' he told reporters at the airport here on Sunday.

The perception of the Western countries that they were immune to terrorists was shattered with the attack on the World Trade Center, he said.

"No country is safe from terrorism which has become a global problem and an effective strategy should be evolved to deal with it."

No support in India

Later, at a function Mandsaur got up to unveil the statue of martyr Hemu Kalani, he said "Unlike Pakistan, where the army rules, terrorists groups like Al-Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad do not get support in a democratic country like India."

Indian democracy did not allow such outfits to breed, he said adding that soon after the WTC attack, the United States made "friends" with Pakistan, which in turn handed over 500 Al-Qaeda terrorists, none of whom hailed from India.

Stating that the world had started respecting India over the years, Mr. Advani said the NDA Government, under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had taken the initiatives in this direction. "The world is looking at India and China, trying to guess which country will emerge better."

Mr. Advani asked BJP-ruled States to seek people's cooperation to fulfil the dream of providing every village with water, electricity, health and education.

PTI

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