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The Shiv Sena on Tuesday described the anti-terrorism bill as the 'minimum' needed for containing all forms of terrorism and demanded a 'more stringent law' to fight the menace.
"And it is here that we have a difference with the government. How can we fight terrorism with a simple piece of legislation? The threat is too severe, but the law too mild. We are unhappy about this... The punishment should be more severe," Union Minister and Shiv Sena member Manohar Joshi said.
He said that the Bill had become necessary for the security of the country, as Pakistan was backing Islamic fundamentalist groups and terrorism was raising its ugly head in neighbouring Bangladesh as well.
Refuting opposition criticism about Prevention of Terrorism Bill, he said that if they feel it is too 'draconian', then the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 being used by the Congress-led government in the state should be repealed as 'provisions are identical, except that MOCA prescribes minimum penalties and sentence for certain types of offences'.
The success rate of MOCA, he said, was 75 per cent.
He attacked the Congress party saying, "It is the same party that for the first time in the history of modern India made undemocratic moves, which included MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act), NSA (National Security Act), imposition of emergency and later TADA (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act)."
Condemning the demand for banning Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, he said their activities were 'in no way comparable to those of Lashkar-e-Tayiba or Hizbul Mujahideen or any other outfit listed in the schedule'.
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