Goverment not providing enough security to BJP leaders

NEW DELHI: Apprehending attempts by terrorists to disrupt Lok Sabha elections, BJP today accused the Centre of not doing enough to secure its leaders and expressed surprise at Home Minister's remarks that there are no inputs of any threat to them.

Noting that the country cannot afford to lower its guard on security, BJP alleged that the Centre was not initiating adequate steps to secure political leaders notwithstanding reports that four Indian Mujahideen militants arrested by Delhi Police had plans to target Narendra Modi.

The BJP also accused the Congress of "emboldening" terrorists with its statements aimed at vote bank politics.

"India cannot afford to lower its guard...it is surprising that the political establishment of the Home Ministry recently announced that they had no information about any threat to political leaders, particularly of the BJP during the election campaign," BJP leader Arun Jaitley said.

Home Minister SushilKumar Shinde had stated that his ministry has no information about threats to BJP leaders.

BJP Spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said the report that the four terrorists were planning to attack Modi was an "extremely sensitive subject" and a challenge to the democratic system.

"We had expected that the Centre would step up security of Modi and our other leaders. It is probably not happening. We had also submitted a memorandum to the Home Minister over the issue but it appears that the government is not doing the needful," he said.

Calling for a consensus on matters of national security, he raked up the demand for an exclusive tough anti-terror law.

"We should have some consensus over the matters of national security like other countries. We should not issue statements which embolden terrorists," he said.

Jaitley said there would be attempts by insurgents to disturb the general elections and the country's security establishments cannot afford to fail even once as the threat comes from groups across the border, which are supported by both State and non-State actors, as well as from various indigenous modules.