Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is not in favour of a federal agency to counter terrorism, as is being suggested from various quarters after the Mumbai terror attacks. Kumar on Monday told reporters: “Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh should first get a consensus on ways to fight terrorism by calling an immediate meeting of chief ministers and another all-party meeting”.

“As law and order is a state subject, any likely intervention by a Cental agency would create confusion and possible confrontation. Rather, there can be a specialised trained force in every state to counter terrorism,” said Kumar.

Calling resignation of Shivraj Patil “hogwash and a belated move”, Kumar said the resignation will not solve any problem. “The need of the hour is to win back the confidence of people, who have been losing faith in politicians”.

“Maharashtra Government should have been proactive on matters of regionalism. The terror attacks have brought regional issues to the fore and people have taken attack on Mumbai as attack on the nation,” said Kumar.

He said two-power centres (PM and UPA chairperson) in New Delhi had “weakened the UPA Government”. PM alone is generally considered the leader of the nation but UPA politics had set a different precedent, said Kumar.

Kumar also regretted officers from the Armed forced directly addressing the media about Mumbai attacks. “This can only serve to weaken our democratic system,” said Kumar.

Bihar Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah said the state government had no official information about the number of people from Bihar killed in Mumbai attacks. According to the unofficial figures, 11 Biharis including seven from Nawada district were killed in the attack. “Our chief secretary has been in touch with his Maharashtra counterpart. The delay in information may be because of enormity of situation,” said the home secretary.