Centre not enacting tougher laws for controlling terrorism: Chouhan

Jabalpur, Sep 19 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said the Centre is neither enacting a tougher legislation such as Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) for controlling terrorism nor allowing the state government to do so.

Talking to reporters, Mr Chouhan, who arrived here for his 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra', made the statement while commenting about encounter between police and terrorists in New Delhi.

He said lax attitude of the Centre has emboldened terrorists.

Mr Chouhan said the government had sent a proposal to enact a tougher legislation to tackle terrorism about one-and-half-years back. He had met the Prime Minister thrice in this regard. However, the Centre had not granted approval.

Pointing out that strong will was needed to combat terrorism leaving aside concern for vote bank, he said not hanging Parliament attack mastermind Afzal Guru was beyond understanding.

The Chief Minister said the government had decided to constitute a special task force for tackling terrorism. Special training would be provided to the task force.

Criticising the incident of setting a church here on fire, he said culprits would be nabbed soon. He said such incidents had been done with the intention of disturbing peace in Madhya Pradesh.

However, the government would not allow it to succeed.

Reiterating his commitment for keeping Madhya Pradesh an island of peace, Mr Chouhan said dacoits had been eliminated and naxal activities controlled to quite an extent. SIMI chief Safdar Nagori and 43 other members of the banned outfit were arrested.

The Madhya Pradesh cabinet has decided to open a veterinary university in Jabalpur. The process of framing a legislation for the purpose was underway. He claimed that 85 per cent of promises made by him had been fulfilled.

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