When the centre is looking forward to setup an all-important “federal police agency” to contain terrorism in the country, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, a key ally of the BJP led National Democratic Alliance, on Tuesday (December 02) opposed the move saying that the central government instead must work towards modernising the state police forces. Interestingly, the NDA has been demanding for a federal police agency.

Fearing that the formation of such agency would dilute the control of states over law and order, which is a state subject, Badal said that terrorism can be controlled better with greater centre-state coordination. There is no need of any federal agency for that, he added. The Chief Minister, however, said that any final decision on the issue would be taken after consulting the partners of National Democratic Alliance.

A state government spokesman, in a post state-cabinet press conference, informed that the government was reviving 2,000 posts of police constables in the state to maintain law and order in which 500 women constables would be included.

The issue of the constituting a “federal agency” has been on the demand list of numerous political parties, particularly the NDA allies. The voice gathered momentum after the deadly Mumbai terror attack last week that killed 183 people while leaving 239 others injured.