Patil: Govt had prior information about blasts, not going to resig

New Delhi, Sept 15 (UNI) Home Minister Shivraj Patil today claimed that the government had prior information about the terror attack in Delhi but it was not ''actionable information'' and said there was no pressure on him to resign.

Mr Patil in an interview to CNN-IBN said that the information was available with the government from its own intelligence sources regarding blasts in Delhi even before Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and shared his inputs.

However, what was not available was time and the place and the method of keeping bombs in dustbins, he said. The actionable information was not available and in absence of specific information it was difficult to act on it, he added.

Mr Patil, who is facing flak for being soft on terror, claimed that he enjoyed the ''blessings'' of the Party leadership.

Asked whether he felt pressurised by not being invited to a meeting convened by Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Delhi blasts, Mr Patil said ''Don't put me in defensive. This is not the style of functioning of my leader neither it is the ethos of my party.'' Regarding whether he had full confidence of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Mr Patil said ''I have full blessings of my leader.'' Denying the charge that he was a weak home minister, Mr Patil said that people thought that he was weak as he didnot shout.

However, the charge was not true.

Regarding the media reports that he was busy changing clothes even while the blasts were happening in Delhi, Mr Patil said that it was the liberty of the press and he was not angry about it.

Asked about opposition demanding stringent laws like POTA to tackle terrorism, Mr Patil said that it could be passed if Parliament agrees.

Mr Patil said that he had full faith in the understanding of people and they would not be angry with him. He appealed to the people not to lose confidence and defeat those indulging in such heinous acts.

UNI AJ LS RK1950