New Delhi [India], November 11 : Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the recent security incidents, stating that explosive material was recovered in Faridabad on the same day the car blast took place near the Red Fort metro station.
She questioned whether the government could determine if it was a terrorist act.
"This is a matter of great worry. It happened on the same day as explosive material was recovered in Faridabad. The government cannot determine whether this was a terrorist incident. At such a time, accountability and responsibility should be fixed. During such a difficult time, PM Modi has gone to Bhutan," Shrinate said.
She further questioned the government's intelligence inputs, saying, "Did the government have no intelligence input on this incident? Serious lapses in security are happening. The country feels it is not in strong hands. Keeping the country in confidence, further action should be taken."
On Monday, the blast, which ripped through a slow-moving Hyundai i20 near the Subhash Marg traffic signal by the Red Fort, killed eight people and left several others injured.
Central agencies, including the NIA, have been brought onto the probe amid indications that the incident looks like a possible terror act. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has formally handed the case to the NIA. The NIA will now take the lead on the wider investigation under relevant counter-terrorism laws.
After the conclusion of the first round of meetings, the Ministry of Home Affairs handed over the investigation into the case to the NIA, considering it a possible act of terror. The decision comes amid growing concerns over the nature and links of the explosion.
The NIA will take over the probe formally from the Delhi Police and examine all aspects of the case, including the materials used in the blast and possible terror links. The transfer of the case to the NIA indicates the Centre's intent to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated investigation into the incident.
Security was tightened across several states after the explosion, and the government has not ruled out any theory while pursuing leads aggressively.
All agencies have been instructed to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the nature and cause of the explosion and submit a detailed report as soon as possible.
Earlier, a post-blast investigation team of the National Security Guard (NSG) had collected forensic evidence from the site along with the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team.