No specific intelligence input on security threat to Narendra Modi: JD(U)

PATNA: The ruling JD(U) today continued to maintain that there was no specific intelligence input on a security threat to Narendra Modi during his Bihar visit and said that the serial blasts took place despite the best efforts to put up proper security for his rally.

"There was no specific intelligence input on security threat to Modi during his 'Hunkar' Rally and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the state police officials have said as much," senior JD(U) leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary told reporters here.

He was replying to a question regarding Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde's statement that that a specific intelligence alert was sent to the Bihar police.

Asked whether he was contradicting Shinde, Chaudhary, the Water Resources minister, chose not to comment.

Questioned about the failure of the state intelligence in foiling the serial blasts, he said that there was no input from it either.

Chaudhary regretted that such an incident took place. The minister said that IM's co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and his associate had been arrested because of the efforts by the Bihar police which had tracked their movement in Nepal and bordering districts of the state.

"The BJP is falsely accusing the state government for its soft attitude towards terrorists, including IM operatives which we condemn strongly," he said.