At least 22 people were killed in the latest attacks in New Delhi [AFP]

Manmohan Singh made the statement late on Wednesday as the home ministry announced plans for a new counter-terrorism centre, an additional 7,000 police offficers for New Delhi and closed circuit TV cameras in busy areas.

"We are actively considering legislation to further strengthen the substantive anti-terrorism law in line with the global consensus on the fight against terrorism," Singh told reporters.

The Indian government has come under pressure in the wake of serial bomb blasts this year in the cities of Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and New Delhi, which have claimed more than 100 lives.

The latest bombing, in the capital on Saturday, left at least 22 people dead and led some local media to accuse the government of incompetence and failing to implement a comprehensive strategy to deal with terrorism.

However, Singh dismissed the accusation that the government's policies had put the country at an increased risk of attack.

"There is no question of government being soft on terrorism," he said.

Understaffed

Critics have said that India's police are massively understaffed and under-resourced, noting that there is no central database of anti-government suspects and little time for meticulous investigations.

India has previously focused much of its intelligence activity on neighbouring Pakistan, but several of this year's bombings have been claimed by a little-known group calling itself the Indian Mujahidin.

Singh insisted that the role of Pakistan-based groups should "not be minimised", while also acknowledging that the apparent involvement of local fighters added "a new dimension to the terrorist threat".

P. Chidambaram, India's finance minister, warned that there was a growing sense of "alienation" among the around 140 million Muslims in the Hindu-majority country.

"The divide between the Muslims and Hindus is taking new and dangerous forms," he said in a speech on Wednesday. "Out of the hopelessness and despair ... will rise new waves of terror."

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