Rejecting the Opposition demand for a stringent law like POTA once again, the Centre on Monday argued for a separate agency to deal with federal crimes and tackle terrorism at the national level.
Responding to an impromptu discussion in the wake of the recent serial blasts in UP, home minister Shivraj Patil said the Prime Minister would soon take up the issue with chief ministers. ??In a bid to arrive at a consensus, as a few of the CMs have not agreed to the proposal, attempts would be made convince them that the country needs to have a federal agency to deal with terror attacks,?? Patil said.
Though refused to play blame game over the issue, Patil, in an apparent move to retort UP chief minister Mayawati for her accusation that the Centre failed in averting blast, said co-operation between the Centre and the state could only help address the challenge.
Earlier, initiating the debate, leader of the Opposition LK Advani recalled the serial blasts in Varanasi, Faizabad and Lucknow and said ?a pattern? had emerged in the terror strikes over the past two years in which instances of co-ordinated serial blasts were on the rise.
Alleging that UP was ??gradually becoming a hub of terror??, Mohan Singh (SP) targeted the Mayawati government for its failure to avert such incidents and putting the onus on the Central government and its agencies.
Meanwhile in Rajya Sabha, the main opposition BJP argued that the party would support the UPA government in fighting terrorism if it comes up with tough measures like POTA in tackling the fast spreading menace.