[JURIST] L.K. Advani [party profile], leader of India's opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) [party website], said in a speech [text] Sunday in Bhopal that the July 11 Mumbai train bombings [BBC report] were "a fallout of repealing" the country's Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) [backgrounder; text], set aside by the now-ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) when it came to power in 2004. Advani said POTA had to be revived in order for India to effectively combat terrorism.

Indian law enforcement authorities have thusfar named three suspects [JURIST report] in connection with the bombings and have conducted several sweeps detaining hundreds of people [JURIST report] for questioning. New Kerala has more. Advani previously called for the revival of the Indian anti-terror law [JURIST report] in July 2005 after gunmen attacked a disputed religious shrine in northern India.

1:44 PM ET - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [official website] has apparently rejected Advani's call by telling reporters later Sunday on board his aircraft headed for the G8 summit in St. Petersburg that "It is far from true that Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) is the only means to deal with terrorists. There are many other ways. We will strengthen our intelligence gathering ability and we will look at the security apparatus, both at the Central and state levels to do that." The Times of India has more.