Fumbles when asked about UPA’s proposal to set up a federal agency Expressing shock over the terror attacks in Mumbai and advising the UPA government to “rise above caste and community when dealing with terrorism”, Chief Minister Mayawati was caught off guard, when she was asked for her views on the Centre’s proposal for setting up a agency on the lines of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the US. A fumbling Mayawati finally said, “It is good if they are making such a proposal. We will think about it when it is proposed to us.” She was addressing mediapersons on Thursday in the state capital.In 2004, the Centre had mooted the idea for such a independent federal agency. The reason being that unlike the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), FBI does not require the permission of state governments to investigate a specified list of crimes. The Centre, however, faced serious opposition from the chief ministers, who wanted their own forces to be strengthened. At the time when the idea was proposed, Mulayam Singh Yadav was the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. When asked about the group responsible for the Mumbai attacks, the chief minister said: “It is too early to say anything. Right now, we can only pray for the safety of all those who have been held hostages.” She added: “I had said earlier that terror has no caste or religion. The government should, therefore, think beyond caste and community and come out with a statement only after gathering all evidence.” She also demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh take effective measures to ensure such incidents are not repeated. Mayawati, meanwhile, expressed grief on the demise of former prime minister V P Singh and declared a three-day mourning in the state. “The loss caused to the nation by his death cannot be compensated,” she said.
