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J&K Govt. decision on POTA criticised

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI NOV 5. The Bharatiya Janata Party has begun attacking the Jammu and Kashmir Government headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed even before it has had time to settle down, and the point, which is pricking the party sharply, is the State Government's decision not to use the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The party general secretary and spokesperson, Arun Jaitley, today made it clear that the BJP found the common minimum programme (CMP) of the Congress-People's Democratic Party coalition Government ``disturbing and distressing''. The political determination not to use POTA (The Congress had opposed the legislation) was described by Mr. Jaitley as a ``terrorist-friendly decision''.

In fact, there was just a hint of warning in what Mr. Jaitley said today when he pointed out that militant outfits such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba had been banned by the Centre (under POTA) and it was the duty of the State Government to ensure that not only the members of the banned organisations but also those who helped them in any way were arrested. Intercepts of telephone conversations were also to be made under POTA.

Will the State Government decision not to use POTA mean that the Mufti Sayeed Government will let activists of these dreaded organisations go scot free? In short, indirectly Mr. Jaitley expressed fears that the new Government would be soft towards militants, even the hardcore terrorists among them.

The party was also critical of the Samajwadi Party leader, Mulayam Singh Yadav, blaming him for ``dragging'' the name of the Uttar Pradesh Governor, Vishnu Kant Shastri, into the political controversy in the State. Why should Mr. Yadav make allegations against the Governor when it was clear to all that the Congress had not responded to his appeal for help and support and he had not been able to get the numbers together to bring down the Mayawati Government or legitimately claim support for an alternative formation?

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• Mufti yet to pick up his team of officials
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