Indian module behind July 13 Mumbai serial blasts: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI: The government on Thursday said there were indications of the involvement of an Indian terror module in last month's serial blasts in Mumbai even as the opposition and UPA ally NCP accused the Centre of being soft in its approach to terrorism.

"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 home grown modules," he said while replying to a debate in Rajya Sabha on growing incidents of terror.

It is for the first time that the government has pointed towards the involvement of a homegrown terror group for the three explosions in the metropolis.

Chidambaram said there is a new dimension of home-grown terrorism which threatens the country's survival as federal entity even as the opposition targeted it of being "soft" towards the menace.

The Home Minister also said all over the world right wing fascist forces were on the rise and India is no exception to it.

Chidambaram admitted the Pune and Mumbai blasts are "two major blots" in the last 32 months since he assumed the charge of Home Ministry. "I accept it," he said.

Opposition BJP, joined by NCP, charged the government with being soft towards terrorism.

Participating in the debate, BJP leader Arun Jaitley launched a scathing attack on the handling of the terror attacks and said mandarins in the Ministry of External Affairs "feel helpless" while dealing with countries which are the epicentres of terrorism.