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Onkar Singh in New Delhi
The Government of India is looking into reports that terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden and Taleban fighters may seek safe haven in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Talking to rediff.com, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Vijay Kumar Malhotra said that the government has taken note of these reports.
"Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has taken serious note of these reports and has asked the intelligence agencies to keep a close watch on the developments in PoK. We have not ruled out the possibility of Pakistan offering shelter to Osama bin Laden in POK," he said.
"Sunday's massacre in J&K should open the eyes of those who have been opposing the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance. The government needs a stringent law to deal with terrorism in the country," he argued.
When his attention was drawn to the statement given by Minister of State for Agriculture Hukam Deonarain Singh that POTO would be used against the media, Malhotra said that if what had been reported was true, then it was unfortunate.
"We have been trying to dispel doubts that POTO may be directed against the media. If the statement is true then it is unfortunate. We have asked the media to suggest what the government should do on this matter," he said.
He agreed with the suggestion that perhaps the government could make a seven member committee of prominent media persons to look into the complaints of the media on POTO and make suggestions for suitable amendments in the law.
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