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Modi pulls out Pota

Addressing a public meeting in the city, Modi gave a speech full of his usual rhetoric and dramatic pronouncements.

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Says states should be allowed to enact own anti-terror laws.

Narendra Modi, Gujarat chief minister, dared Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to allow state governments to enact their own anti-terrorism acts if Centre was averse to re-enacting the Prevention of Anti Terrorist Act (Pota) or similar legislation to curb terrorism in the country.

Addressing a well-attended public meeting at Shanmukhananda Hall organised by the city unit of BJP, Modi gave a speech full of his usual rhetoric and dramatic pronouncements.

He said, “If we allowed to enact such an anti-terrorism act, Gujarat will be the first state to do so and I will be the first chief minister who will show this country as to how terrorism is curbed and how to hang terrorists.” It is to be remembered that Modi was chief minister when more than 2,000 were killed in riots in Gujarat in 2002, the Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar was attacked by terrorists and former revenue minister Haren Pandya was assassinated in broad daylight in Ahmedabad. Pota was in operation at the time.

Modi had called on victims of last Tuesday’s serial bomb blasts in Mumbai before he made his speech. He referred to his visit in his speech and called upon the Maharashtra Government to, “learn lessons from such dastardly acts”, and “crack down on terrorists and suspects which it has not been seen doing”.

He said that terrorist attacks were nothing more than proxy wars, “We are surrounded by countries where jihadi terrorism breeds but still our national policy on terrorism is so soft.” With such laws and policies, India will never be able to curb terrorism, he felt.

Before Modi came on, Gopinath Munde, former deputy chief minister, strongly objected to the statement of Samajwadi MP Abu Azmi that 20 crore Muslims would hit the streets if Modi came to the city. He asked, “What will happen if 80 crore Hindus come out on the streets?”

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