Tough anti-terror law needed but not POTA, says Rahul

JALANDHAR: With opposition BJP targeting the UPA government for allegedly being soft on terrorism, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today said that the country needed a tough anti-terror law but not a "failed" statute like POTA.

"There should be a strong law (to deal with terror). A powerful law, not a failed law. POTA is a failed law," the 38-year-old scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family told reporters after a three-day visit to Punjab.

"When POTA was in operation, Parliament was attacked. We almost lost our MPs, Home Minister and the Prime Minister. When it was in operation, Kandahar took place," the Congress general secretary said, adding "fighting terrorism requires political will".

In the wake of the serial blasts in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Jaipur, the opposition BJP has been demanding reviving of the stringent POTA, that was scrapped by the UPA government.