US offer146;s not interference, says Patil

Patil said the Home Ministry dealt with such offers in consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs MEA. A senior Ministry official said there was nothing unusual about the US offer. India had an agreement with the US and 21 other countries for cooperation in countering terrorism.

He said: 8216;8216;We keep asking one another if any help is needed.8217;8217; He recalled that India had extended help to the US with regard to the investigation of the 9/11 attack.

Asked if India would accept the US offer, the official said: 8216;8216;We have adequate expertise to handle it the inquiry.8217;8217; Contending that it was not a rejection of the offer, he said: 8216;8216;We can tell them 8212; thank you.8217;8217;

An MEA spokesman said the offer of FBI assistance had been 8216;8216;in terms of ongoing co-operation between our two countries on counter-terrorism. The offer will be considered in terms of the existing guidelines of the Government of India8217;8217;.

The CPIM Politburo termed the US offer a direct interference in India8217;s internal affairs and asked the government to reject it outright. Mulford, the CPIM said, had no business to write to a state CM directly. The party also took on Gogoi saying that his indication of willingness to accept the US offer was 8216;8216;condemnable8217;8217;.

Jayanti Natarajan said the Congress appreciated the US concern over violent incidents and its anxiety to fight terror, but the offer of assistance 8216;8216;should have been routed through normal channels8217;8217;.

BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi refused comment saying it was for the Government to respond to it.