BJP on Thursday said the recent serial blasts in the party-ruled states would not dilute its determination to combat terrorism and called for strengthening intelligence agencies.
CHENNAI: BJP on Thursday said the recent serial blasts in the party-ruled states would not dilute its determination to combat terrorism and called for strengthening intelligence agencies and paramilitary forces.
"By targeting BJP ruled states, the terrorists will not succeed in their efforts of intimidating BJP to dilute its war against terrorism. In fact, it has strengthened our conviction and resolve to crush this deadly evil," party President Rajnath Singh told at a press conference here.
Accusing the UPA Government of being 'soft' on terrorism, he said the recent serial blasts in Jaipur, Bangalore and Ahmedabad had clearly indicated that the life and property of common man was virtually at stake under the UPA rule.
"We have been advocating a strong policy on terror, which included a multi-pronged and integrated action against terrorists for the past four years.
"But the UPA Government did not pay heed to our suggestion and still continuing its fight against terror in a disoriented and casual manner," he said.
Rajnath said there was a need to strengthen the intelligence agencies and para-military forces by providing them latest weapons and equipment.
On the Centre's suggestion of a federal investigation agency to deal with terrorism, he said such an agency would be ineffective unless it was given 'strong teeth and claws'.
"The idea of a federal agency without a stringent anti-terror law is like sending an army to fight a battle without any weapon," he said.
Charging the UPA with delaying approval to the anti-terrorist laws enacted by the state assemblies of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Rajnath said had the Centre approved the laws, the blasts in the three cities would have been investigated quickly and the culprits brought to justice.
Seeing a hand of Pakistan intelligence agency ISI in the recent bomb blasts, he said the US state department had shown Pakistan proof of ISI's nexus with terrorist organisations.
The UPA Government should take a cue from this and use its diplomatic channels to pursue the global community to put the ISI on international watch, he said.
He said even the countries which were less exposed to terrorism were coming out with stringent anti-terror laws, while India, which had bore the brunt of the menace had repealed the POTA.
Rajnath also said that India's counter terrorism efforts were hampered by outdated and overburdened law enforcement and legal systems, quoting the US state department's annual report, adding it had ranked India among the world's most-terror afflicted countries.
The Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), enacted by BJP-led NDA government in 2002, was repealed by Congress-led UPA government when it came to power in 2004.
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