PM urged to clear MP's anti-terrorist bill

Bhopal, Aug 23 (UNI) The BJP government in Madhya Pradesh has urged the Centre to clear its legislation to control terrorist activities and other organised crimes pending since 2007 and to reconsider enactment of an anti-terrorist central law on the line of POTA.

In a letter sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed his anguish over the recent bomb blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad saying. It showed our lack of seriousness in fighting terrorism effectively.'' ''There was an urgent need to have political will and national consensus on fighting terrorism,'' he said, alleging that the Central government had taken a retrograde step by repealing Prevention of Terrorism Act 2002 without making adequate provisions to deal with terrorism.

''The states had to defend themselves against the menace of terrorism with archaic and inadequate laws. Even the terrorist attacks in Bangalore and Ahmedabad would have to be tried under ordinary laws,'' Mr Chouhan pointed out.

Lamenting that ''Madhya Pradesh Atankvadi Evam Uchhedak Gatividhiyan Tatha Sangathit Apradh Niyantran Vidheyak,2007'' to deal with terrorism, organised crime and disruptive activities was pending for approval since December, 2007, he said despite reminders the required approval was still awaited.

''Anti-terror laws passed by the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan were also pending with the Centre for approval,'' he said, adding MCOCA and other anti-terror laws were already in existence in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

''Therefore, the long-pending bill of Madhya Pradesh need urgent consideration in wider national interest,'' Mr Chouhan said.

''Timely sharing and dissemination of actionable and accurate intelligence by the central intelligence agencies was a sine-qua-non for effective pre-emptive strike against terrorist groups.

Therefore, there is need to upgrade and strengthen intelligence collection capabilities of the central intelligence agencies besides providing financial and technical assistance for upgrading the state intelligence agencies,'' he said.

The state government has decided to constitute a well equipped and specialised anti-terrorist cell to deal effectively with terrorism, the Chief Minister said and requested the Prime Minister to convene a meeting of all Chief Ministers to discuss the imminent security concerns arising out of the recent terrorist attacks.

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