Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Lal Kishenchand Advani on Sunday asked the Centre not to scrap the anti-terrorism legislation POTA, saying it's an useful instrument in punishing terrorists and confiscating funds associated wit| the menace.

Noting that the first thing that the UPA Government did after assuming office was to declare that POTA would be repealed, Advani, addressing a public meeting in Bangalore, said the Centre should consult the army, paramilitary forces and the state police who are dealing with terrorism day-in-and-day-out before proceeding in the matter.

Observing that personnel of these institutions have been fighting terrorists risking their own lives, the former deputy prime minister and home minister asked: "And you want to scrap a law that is specially designed for that (fighting terrorists)?."

While admitting there has been abuse of POTA, Advani asked as to which law in India had not been abused. "Even IPC (Indian Penal Code) has been abused. Does that mean that one scraps IPC ?."

He said the NDA Government tried to provide safeguards in POTA and did it and had told the then opposition to offer
suggestions to that extent. "Don't scrap it. It's a useful instrument," the BJP leader said.

"Without this (POTA), many of the punishments that had to be given, could not have been given; Many of the funds that
had been confiscated, could not have been confiscated," he added.