The UPA government came under severe attack from the Opposition and even a section of its allies for its “inability” to take firm anti-terror measures, in the wake of the Mumbai attack, at a five-hour all-party meeting here today.

Congress ally Samajwadi Party took an unusually strident position setting “a 15-day deadline” for the UPA to take “concrete measures on the ground.” National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah went a step further, advocating “specific action” against terror camps being run in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. But this view was not shared by the majority present there who intervened to say that Islamabad itself was wracked by terror and turmoil and any “misadventure” could backfire.

The Opposition BJP demanded “an immediate Parliament session” and said that the UPA Government’s “non-serious approach” was evident “as it failed to mention Pakistan’s name” in the summing up of the proceedings by the PM.

The Congress, too, stressed the need for “firm anti-terror laws” — party president Sonia Gandhi said in the end that the “party’s commitment in this regard is well known”. Earlier, in a meeting of its partners, Pranab Mukherjee had called for a “unified UPA response” in the face of a barrage of charges from the Opposition.

The Left, led by CPM general secretary Prakash Karat, referring to the post-9/11 “UN Security Council Resolution against terrorism (1373) — that no country would allow its land to be used for activities against any other country — said that the Mumbai attacks should be raised in the UN, an argument that found favour with many.

... contd.