Dhumal wants NSG for hydro projects

Dhumal, who will be attending the NDA chief ministers8217; meeting convened by BJP8217;s prime ministerial candidate L K Advani on January 5 in New Delhi, said the BJP has backed the UPA government in passing the new law.

8220;There is a need to plug some loopholes and ensure that the law is effective enough to deal with those indulging in terrorist activities or anti-India activities,8221; he said.

The Chief Minister said he would also raise some of these points in the meeting of chief ministers convened by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on January 6 in New Delhi.

Dhumal was the first to demand convening of such a meeting immediately after the Mumbai attack.

8220;It8217;s good that the government has decided to listen to the CMs on security-related issues and also formulate a common strategy, but it would have been better if the meeting was convened before the law was passed,8221; he said.

Dhumal said he had recently written to the Union Home Minister, asking for the stationing of an NSG unit in Himachal Pradesh for protection of major hydel projects. He said due to threat of anti-national elements, Himachal has decided to upgrade security at hydel projects.