No imposition of POTA in Punjab: CM

PUNJAB: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday 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 told reporters here.

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.