New Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday defended amendments to an anti-terror law, saying they are essential to keep law enforcement agencies one step ahead of terrorists. Responding to a debate in Lok Sabha on a bill seeking to amend the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, he said anti-terror laws would not be misused and used only to root out terrorism.

He said provision in UAPA (Amendment) bill, which was passed in the Lok Sabha by a voice vote, to designate a person suspected to have terror links as terrorist is necessary to root out terror. Hitting out at the Congress for opposing the amendment, he said if the UPA was correct in amending anti-terror laws in their tenure, then so is the NDA.