No POTA-type law needed to counter terror: CPI

Fri, May 16 04:15 PM

Opposing BJP's demand for enactment of a POTA-like law in the wake of the Jaipur serial blasts, CPI National Secretary D Raja has said that terrorism could be tackled if people remained alert and not through any special statute.

"Eradication of terrorism from the country is only possible if we remain alert", Raja, a sitting Rajya Sabha MP said in Jaipur after visiting those injured in the blasts in a hospital.

"No special law is required to counter the menace", the left leader said.

Raja's comments follow the demand made by Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for a law on the lines of defunct POTA to deal with terrorism.

She has also regretted that a bill on organised crime passed by the state Vidhan Sabha in 2006 was still awaiting the President's consent.

CPI MP Tapan Sen, who accompanied Raja, was of the view that authorities should take care that innocents were not harassed during their hunt for suspected militants belonging to Bangladesh-based Harkat-ul Jihadi Islami (HuJI).

While advocating stern action against the terrorists involved in the blasts, Sen said, "Every Bangla speaking person is not a Bangladeshi, he could be from West Bengal too".

Sudha Sundaram, chairperson of Janwadi Mahila Samiti Sudha Sunderam, who was part of the delegation of the MPs, demanded a 'reasonable compensation' for the seriously injured patients.

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