NEW DELHI, 19 May 2008 — Although investigations into Tuesday’s Jaipur blasts are still ongoing, politicians are exercising little restrain in lashing at rival parties. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has blamed the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for being “soft” on terrorism. Referring to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s suggestion for a federal agency to combat terrorism, BJP leader Arun Jaitley said yesterday: “It is ironical that after being in the prime minister’s office for four years the prime minister has finally woken up to the harsh and cruel reality that prevention and investigation of terrorism in India is on the verge of collapse.”
Answering questions on the Jaipur blasts, Manmohan Singh said Saturday that the creation of a federal crime agency was the need of the hour as terrorism and several white-collar crimes had inter-state aspects. This proposal could not be implemented, as there is “reluctance” on the part of states to “surrender their powers,” he complained.
While wrapping up his two-day Bhutan trip, the prime minister was quoted as saying: “There is no doubt that terrorist elements have many objectives — to disturb the atmosphere of communal harmony in our country, to create communal disturbances and also to prevent normalization of relations between India and Pakistan.
“It is not a matter that should divide political parties. Congress, the BJP all have obligation on their part to tackle the issue. We have to put our heads together.”
But Jaitley made it clear that his party would not sit together with the UPA to discuss terrorism. He opposed Singh’s suggestion of a federal agency on terrorism and said: “The prime minister, his government and the party have consistently opposed a strong anti-terror law. Will such a federal agency not be helpless in investigating terrorist crimes if confessions of terrorists to police are inadmissible evidence and bail to terrorists is given under normal law? What purpose would be achieved in merely changing the investigating agency, particularly when investigation and prevention of terrorism is to take place under a law which is not terrorist unfriendly?”
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil asked the opposition leaders to exercise restrain in making statements, which can prove disturbing. Condemning the Jaipur blast, he said: “They were perpetrated to disturb the communal harmony. Very wisely, the people have behaved in a responsible manner and have not allowed the design to succeed. They deserve our thanks and congratulations. At this point of time, nothing should be done and said which would create obstacles and misunderstanding and is unhelpful in the task of investigating agencies. For this purpose, no statement which can create misunderstanding between the agencies and governments should be made by those who are involved in doing their duties.
“Issues which are not pertinent at this point of time need not be raised now. They were raised in the past. They can be raised in the future. At this time, they are better avoided. This is necessary to present a picture, which is helpful for the task to be performed. With this objective in mind, everybody is coming forth and trying to be helpful.”
Demanding steps to plug the infiltration of Bangladeshi into India, BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani said that terrorism had spread in the country under UPA rule. Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has described federal intelligence inputs as vague as “weather reports.”
