Law like POTA not required: Shivraj Patil

NEW DELHI: Rejecting the BJP's demand for a POTA-like law in the wake of serial blasts in Uttar Pradesh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Monday told Parliament that a meeting of Chief Ministers is being convened soon to tighten internal security and fight terrorism.

"The position of the ruling party is that a law like POTA is not required," he said responding to specific queries on whether a law like POTA was necessary to deal with terrorism.

Winding up discussions in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the UP blasts, Patil categorically asserted that even without POTA the government could tackle the problem of terrorism.

The main opposition BJP, while initiating the discussion in the upper House, had earlier said it would support the UPA government in fighting terrorism if it came up with tough measures like POTA to tackle the fast spreading menace.

Noting that actionable and timely intelligence inputs were needed at the state level, the Home Minister said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would convene a meeting of Chief Ministers within a fortnight.

Referring to suggestions for having a federal crime investigating agency, Patil said states were not ready for it, apprehending that the Centre would enter their "jurisdiction".

He said the issue could be tackled with the help from the states, which should earmark more money for police and on collection of "actionable" intelligence through their CID and Special Branches.

Patil complimented the Uttar Pradesh Government for announcing formation of an Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) for which the Centre would be happy to extend financial and other assistance.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com