Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal today ruled out imposition of tough terror law POTA saying it had no relevance here as people are firmly against terrorism
PUNJAB: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today ruled out imposition of tough terror law POTA, enacted during NDA rule, in the state saying it had no relevance here as people are firmly against terrorism and the fundamentalist forces.
Sometimes, the strict provisions of laws like POTA create fear psychosis and uncertainty in the minds of the people and it should be applied sparingly where the law and order situation was beyond any one's control especially in naxalite-infested states like Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand,
Badal said.
He said the law and order situation in Punjab was absolutely fine and did not warrant such laws.
The people of the state had suffered the brunt of decade-long terrorism and the bitter memories of those black days were still afresh in our minds, the Chief Minister said.
"It was an unfortunate period in the history of Punjab that had retarded the process of development in the state from which we have yet not been able to recoup", he said.
Replying to a question about cases filed against former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and persons close to him, Badal said his party Shiromani Akali Dal had not made anybody target of political vendetta.
He said the cases registered against former MLA Beas Jasbir Singh Dimpa for alleged murder and Amarinder Singh for Ludhiana City Center Scam were based on the news reports.
He made it clear that the case against Singh was an outcome of vigilance inquiry initiated by him during the tenure of the previous Congress government and our government has simply proceeded according to the provisions of law as per the findings of the said inquiry.
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