Shah tells Northern Zonal Council that agencies will pursue those behind the Red Fort blast without limits, urging stronger coordination among northern states on security, investigations, public services, and inter-state issues
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday that agencies will track down those behind the November 10 Red Fort blast and ensure they face legal action, adding that the search would extend “even to paatal (netherworld)” if needed.
Shah was addressing the 32nd Northern Zonal Council meeting in New Delhi, where he spoke about the need for closer cooperation among northern states and Union territories on matters of security and investigation. The blast near the Red Fort had killed 12 people, and the meeting opened with a minute’s silence for the victims.
The Northern Zonal Council includes Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Chandigarh. Chief ministers of these states, along with the lieutenant governors of Delhi and J&K and the Governor of Punjab, were present for the discussions.
The agenda covered several regional governance issues such as public health, education, power and water supply, improvements in nutrition schemes, and urban planning.
The council also reviewed processes related to cases involving crimes against women and children, including the functioning of Fast Track Special Courts. Senior officials from the Centre and the participating states contributed inputs during the meeting.
On the Red Fort case, Shah said coordinated work between state governments and central agencies was essential to avoid delays in sensitive investigations. He added that the Centre expected states to assist promptly wherever required.
Zonal councils were formed under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 to enable states to jointly address issues that cut across administrative borders. There are five such councils in the country, each headed by the Union Home Minister. Though advisory in nature, these councils have increasingly served as platforms for resolving inter-state matters.
Government data shows that 63 meetings of zonal councils and their standing committees have taken place in the last 11 years.(KNS).
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