Sunday, September 18 2005 18:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today (Sept 18, 2005) demanded reintroduction of the controversial anti-terrorism act Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), which it said had been repealed by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government with an eye on vote bank politics.

In a resolution at the National Executive meeting here, the Party said India should initiate a global strategy at an international forum to combat terror.

"Terrorism has afflicted the country from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Islamic terrorist groups had been accelerating their activities without inhibition," it said adding that the situation was worse in Northeastern states.

The administration had completely collapsed in Assam and other Northeastern states, where "it appears the terrorist organization like United Liberation front of Assam (ULFA) are calling the shots", the resolution on Internal Security said.

It also cautioned the Centre while carrying on dialogue with Pakistan, saying New Delhi should always be on a 'high alert' about Pakistan's designs to foment terrorism on Indian soil.

The Centre should keep a 'sharp eye' on activities of ISI, Islamic outfits and organizations like ULFA, it said.

On the Naxalite problem, BJP advocated a common strategy to face the threats by them.

"Security forces in the Naxalites-invested states should be provided with latest arms, for which the Center should bear the expenses as the Naxalites menace was a national issue."

Special steps for integrated development of Naxalites infested areas should be taken, the BJP said advising the government not to lose sight of the Maoist problem in Nepal while handling such situations.

On large-scale infiltration from Bangladesh, the party said the Centre should respect the Supreme Court Judgement striking down The Illegal Migrants Determination by Tribunals (IMDT) act.

"No attempt should be made to bring the act through back doors," the resolution said adding that the party would launch an intensive agitation in case the Government tried to do so.

"Illegal infiltrators should be deported to Bangladesh and multi-purpose identity cards should be provided to the citizens in the border states, the party said in the resolution.