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Published 04 Aug, 2011 09:05pm

Chidambaram says Indian terrorists behind Mumbai blasts

NEW DELHI, Aug 4: The Indian government has said there are indications of the involvement of an ‘Indian terror module’ in last month’s serial blasts in Mumbai, even as the opposition accused the Centre of being soft in its approach towards terrorism.

On Thursday, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said “while no conclusion has been reached, all indications point to Indian module” in the July 13 blasts in Mumbai that left 26 people dead.

“We cannot live in denial. We cannot close our eyes to facts. There are homegrown modules,” he said during a debate in Rajya Sabha on growing incidents of terror.

It is for the first time that the government has hinted at the involvement of a homegrown terror group in the three explosions in India’s financial hub.

Mr Chidambaram said there was a new aspect of homegrown terrorism which threatened the country’s survival as a federal entity.

He said all over the world rightwing fascist forces were on the rise and India was no exception to it.

He admitted Pune and Mumbai blasts were two `major blots’ on the government since he assumed the charge of the home ministry 32 months ago. “I accept it,” he said.

Participating in the debate, BJP leader Arun Jaitley launched a scathing attack on the handling by the government of terrorist attacks and said mandarins in the ministry of external affairs `feel helpless’ while dealing with countries “which are theepicentres of terrorism”.

NCP member Yogendra P. Trivedi said: “We are probably too soft in handling terrorism. Killers and terrorists should not feel India is too soft on them.” —Dawn/Times of India News Service

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