Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday led the BJP charge at the Chief Ministers’ conclave, saying the setting up of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was “contrary to our federal spirit” and an attempt at “sidetracking” the states in the fight against terror, a demand endorsed by many non-BJP parties, including the JD (U).

“By setting up the National Investigation Agency, the Central government now obviously wants to take upon itself the responsibility of fighting terror by sidetracking the states,” Modi said. “Even though this arrangement is contrary to our federal spirit, I wish the Central Government all success in its new role,” he added. The BJP leader expressed “satisfaction” that a chief ministers’ meet had finally been convened now “when he made such a demand way back in 2005”. Saying that the UPA Government “lacked the resolve” to fight terror, Modi reiterated some of the key objections of the BJP to the new laws on terror, saying that bail provisions in the new Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, had weakened the Act. “The admissibility of confessions before police officers of certain ranks as provided in POTA and as proposed in GUJCOC has been ignored. Provisions relating to grant of bail have been diluted even in the amended UAPA as compared to POTA. This will facilitate terrorists in getting bail,” the Gujarat CM said.

“How will Pakistan accept our testimony when our own law does not accept Mumbai blasts accused Kasab’s confession as evidence,” he asked. “Had Kasab been caught in Gujarat, law of the land could hardly deal with him strongly because of non-existence of a stringent Act, he said, reminding the Centre that the GUJCOC had not been given their stamp of approval yet.

... contd.