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The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday argued that a mere statement from Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader V Gopalasamy aka Vaiko relating to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam could not justify use of the new anti-terror law against him.
"The BJP is of the view that the mere statement of Vaiko in a speech without any other accompanying factor does not warrant [the use of] POTA on him," party spokesman Arun Jaitley said. "The Centre has given it as a matter of opinion on Vaiko's statement on the condition of the Tamils in Sri Lanka."
Jaitley was answering reporters' questions on what the BJP thought about Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's move to use the Prevention of Terrorism Act against the MDMK politician.
Jaitley evaded a categorical answer on what his party thought about the law's applicability, contending that "its provisions are very clear".
The Congress, however, termed Vaiko's statement 'irregular'. "Our view on Vaiko's action is no different from that of the Tamil Nadu chief minister," chief spokesman S Jaipal Reddy said.
Asked what his party felt on the application of POTA in the case, he said, "The Congress has not taken any decision on [that]." The party, he said, would wait to see what steps the Tamil Nadu chief minister took before taking a stand.
The state government has lodged formal charges under POTA against Vaiko and nine others for their pro-LTTE speeches on June 29.
EARLIER: Centre puts ball back in TN court Vaiko booked under POTA
POTA: The complete coverage
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