UPA blames BJP on terror attacks

Congress-led UPA says BJP-ruled states are not paying proper heed to the Centre's advice of beefing up security.

The terror attacks in Punjab and Rajasthan on Monday acquired a political hue with Congress-led UPA blaming BJP-ruled states for not paying proper heed to its advice to beef up security and the saffron party rubbishing the charge.

"State governments are not that vigilant as they should be. They are not that effective on the internal security front and the result is before us to see," Union Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal said.

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He was replying to a question if states were taking the Home Ministry's advisories seriously and if Punjab and Rajasthan had acted promptly.

Jaiswal hoped that in future states will draw lessons from these incidents and strengthen security arrangments.

Home Ministry officials said that being the festival season, all states were asked to step up vigil, especially in view of inputs provided by central intelligence agencies.

They pointed out that even Punjab was alerted to remain vigilant about some area-specific groups that might create problems.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil had also cautioned that soft targets, including religious and public places normally crowded, could be attacked by terrorists.

Hitting back at Jaiswal, BJP spokesman Ravishankar Prasad said he (Jaiswal) has the habit of "talking loose" and should stop "politicising" such crucial matters in the larger interest of national security.

"Rather than entering into a blame-game, the need of the hour is a coordinated response from the Centre and states," he added.