By NNN-PTI,
New Delhi : Framing a Delhi-specific anti-terror law will be high on the agenda of BJP in the national capital if voted to power, but the party feels that the absence of full statehood will hamper such efforts.
BJP’s Delhi Chief Ministerial candidate V K Malhotra said granting of full-statehood status to Delhi would help tackle terror as it would help the city government frame its own anti-terror law.
“We will press for a very strict law just like in the United States and Britain. Delhi Government does not have the power to frame anti-terror law. That is why we will ask for full statehood,” Malhotra told PTI.
He said the issue of full-fledged statehood will be in the party manifesto.
“The Congress in its manifesto had it but the government did not ask for it. We will ask for it. We will ask for handing over of law and order also,” he said.
Asked how he plans to curb terrorism in the capital, the senior BJP leader said granting of full-fledged statehood, deportation of illegal Bangladeshis and framing of a strict anti-terror law would help secure the city to a large extent.
Malhotra begged to differ when pointed out about Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s observation that full statehood was not possible for Delhi because of the national assets and security infrastructure.
“A Bill was introduced in Parliament where it was said that installations like Parliament, Rashtrapati Bhavan and Central secretariat may remain with the Centre. It could be just like Tokyo and London,” he said.