Jaiswal sounds terror alert for UP

UNION MINISTER of State for Home Affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal today said the State Government had been briefed in detail about the possibility of terror strikes at several prominent places in the State. He admitted that hit list of terrorists included religious places like Mathura and Kashi.

Says many prominent places on ultra hit list

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UNION MINISTER of State for Home Affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal today said the State Government had been briefed in detail about the possibility of terror strikes at several prominent places in the State. He admitted that hit list of terrorists included religious places like Mathura and Kashi.

Jaiswal, while talking to media persons here, said now the onus was on the State Government to take care of these important places and maintain a strict vigil. He also said State Governments were held responsible wherever terrorist attacks took place.

Jaiswal said Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had asked State Governments to remain alert in view of terrorist threats. He said keeping this in mind adequate Central forces had been provided on the request of the State Government. He also said if the State Government felt the need for more forces the same would be duly provided.

Jaiswal compared the bomb blasts at Malegaon with that in Ayodhya and Varanasi. He said the agenda to target religious places was a clear signal that a conspiracy was being hatched to divide the country on religious lines. Jaiswal reiterated that a neighbouring country was behind these terrorist attacks. He, however, refused to name the country.

On his role as the local MP, Jaiswal said he had tried to do his bit for the city. However, he said it was the State Government’s prerogative to solve problems of unhygienic conditions and waterlogging. Replying to a query about several unauthorised colonies like Gopalnagar on the KDA land, Jaiswal said where were the KDA officials when these colonies were coming up.

He said no unauthorised colony could have come up without the connivance of KDA officials.

The matter should be probed and guilt officials punished, he said adding that he had spoken to the KDA vice-chairman in this regard. Jaiswal said the V-C had assured to write to the State Government to find a way out so that people residing in these localities were not disturbed.

On the issue of the absence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi from the Vande Matram programme, Jaiswal said the Opposition was unnecessarily making it an issue.