Terming resignation of Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, in view of Mumbai attacks, nothing but eyewash, Chief Minister Himachal Pradesh Prem Kumar Dhumal today demanded stringent measures to deal with terrorism in the country. He said Patil has been made a scapegoat and his resignation does not relieve the UPA government from the responsibility for the leniency adopted by it.

Dhumal, along with BJP Chief Rajinder Bhandari and national BJP general secretary Balbir Punj, was at Quadian in Gurdaspur, said enactment of new laws and police reforms have to be taken up.

He took the Centre to the task for “not being serious” to deal with terrorism. “Terror has taken new dimensions and innocent people losing their life. This government is just sitting silently,’’ said Dhumal.

When asked that terrorists have used Gujrat as passage to reach Mumbai and if reflects leniency in the Modi regime, he said protecting the national boundaries is the responsibility of the Centre and not state government. Asked about involvement of Pakistan, he and Punj said proper investigations should be carried in this case.