MP CM wants anti-terrorism act

Shivraj Singh Chouhan has called for the revival of POTA and more central funds to tackle the increasing threat posed by terrorism.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has called for the revival of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and more central funds to tackle the increasing threat posed by terrorism.

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Addressing a meeting on internal security in New Delhi on Thursday, Chouhan said that a law like POTA was the need of the hour to tackle the forces promoting separatism.

The chief minister said that his government was considering bringing in an act - the 'Prevention of Terrorist and Disruptive Activities and Organised Criminal Control Act'.

"The states should be granted greater central assistance and an overall improvement in the criminal justice system could be brought about by implementing the recommendations of the Justice Malimat Committee," Chouhan said.

He also felt that internal security should be brought within the ambit of plan expenditure instead of non-plan expenditure.

The states and the central government, he said, should jointly combat the threat posed by terrorism and other separatist movements, which need to be put down with an iron hand.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chaired the meeting attended by Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Defence Minister AK Antony, Finance Minister P Chidambaram and state chief ministers.