New Delhi, Sep. 10 : The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Saturday said that there was a need to strengthen the country''s intelligence gathering apparatus to combat the ever looming threat of terror.

Addressing the 15th meeting of the National Integration Council (NIC) here this morning, Dr. Singh said: "The recent blasts shows there can be no let-up in our vigilance. We must strengthen our investigative agencies and upgrade our intelligence gathering apparatus."

Emphasizing that there was a need to fight terror in all of its manifestations, Singh said India must take steps to combat all divisive forces, and added that no civilised society can bear the loss of loved ones.

He also said that the government would soon be taking a decision on tackling communal violence more effectively.

The Prime Minister''s remarks came three days after a blast outside the Delhi High Court claimed the lives of 13 people and injured over 70.

So far, the government and investigating agencies have said that they have promising but no concrete leads as to who wwas behind the blast.

Investigating agencies are reviewing contents of four emails that claim responsibility for the blast.

According to an official spokesman, the agenda for Saturday''s NIC meeting, which saw the absence of at least five chief ministers, including those from Gujarat (Narendra Modi) and Tamil Nadu (Jayaram Jayalalithaa), includes "measures to curb communalism and communal violence and on a new approach to the Communal Violence Bill".

The Prime Minister is chairing the meeting.

The NIC is also expected to discuss measures to promote communal harmony, eliminate discrimination especially against minorities and scheduled tribes, ways in which the state and police should handle civil disturbances and "how to curb radicalization of youth in the name of religion and caste".

The last meeting of the NIC was held here on October 13, 2008.

The NIC is headed by the Prime Minister and includes union ministers, leaders of opposition in parliament, chief ministers of all states and union territories which have legislatures, leaders of national political parties and regional political parties, chairpersons of national commissions, eminent public figures and representatives from media. (ANI)