By IANS,
Bhopal : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Monday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to immediately convene a meeting of the chief ministers of all states to discuses the security concerns arising from May 13 Jaipur serial blasts that claimed over 60 lives.
In a letter to the prime minister, Chouhan said the dastardly and heinous terrorist act has not only brought death and suffering to the innocent citizens but also exposed the country’s claims of seriousness in coping with the menace of terrorism.
“Our lack of seriousness gets further compounded by the fact that the central government has not come out with a firm and unequivocal message to the effect that it shall do everything possible to fight terrorism to the end,” Chouhan said.
Chouhan says that the central government took a retrograde step by repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) without making adequate provisions to deal with terrorism, thereby leaving the states to defend themselves with archaic and inadequate laws.
The chief minister also drew the prime minister’s attention to the fact that the Madhya Pradesh government had prepared the Madhya Pradesh Aatankvadi Evam Uchhedak Gatividhiyan Tatha Sanghathit Aparadh Niyantran Vidheyak, 2007, to deal with terrorism, organized crime and other disruptive activities. The bill was submitted for approval of the central government in December 2007.
“However, in spite of reminders, the required approval is still awaited, while anti-terror laws are in existence in states like Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. This appears to highlight the attitude of the government to consider the proposals of non-UPA (United Progressive Allaince) states on different considerations and not in the wider national interest,” the letter said.