BJP promises to bring in more stringent law

Promising to bring in a "more stringent" anti-terror law than POTA if voted to power, the BJP today accused the UPA government of lacking strong political will to deal with terrorism.

Promising to bring in a "more stringent" anti-terror law than POTA if voted to power, the BJP on Thursday accused the UPA government of lacking strong political will to deal with terrorism which, it said, was the "biggest threat" faced by the country.

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"We will enact a law which is more stringent than POTA to fight terrorism," BJP president Rajnath Singh told reporters here in a reply to a question.

"The biggest threat the country is facing today is 'jihadi' terrorism. UPA government's evasive response and lack of strong will to counter the challenges posed by different terrorists groups has created an atmosphere of insecurity and fear in the country," Singh said.

The UPA, the BJP leader alleged, "cannot see the difference between terrorism and Muslims and is treating the issue with the angle of vote-bank politics." Singh referred to the recent National Integration Council meeting in New Delhi where terrorism was kept out of the agenda.

In the wake of the recent serial blasts in Jaipur, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Delhi, the BJP has been making a strong pitch for revival of POTA, that was scrapped by UPA.

"We condemn such submission made by the UPA government in the court. They are playing with the religious sentiments of more than a billion people," he said.

Accusing the UPA of driving the country towards stagflation, the BJP leader said his party will revive the sagging economy if voted to power.