WASHINGTON, March 28: The controversial anti-terrorism law passed by the Indian parliament this week appears to have won endorsement by the United States, currently engaged in a “war against terrorism” and in tightening legislation designed to hunt groups with alleged links to terrorism.

Asked to comment on the new Indian measure, pushed through by the ruling BJP government in New Delhi through the device of a joint session of parliament, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said at his briefing on Wednesday afternoon India appeared to have passed the law consistent with democratic principles.

He said: “I think what I would say about that is we do think it’s important for governments to take steps against terrorism, to do it in a constitutional way. And other governments have also passed legislation that makes clear that they are going to take efforts to strengthen their legal systems, as the Indians have just done, within constitutional bounds, so that we all have more effective tools to use against the threat of terrorism.