Amid death threats, government serious about PM Modi's security, says Rajnath Singh

The government is seriously concerned about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday following reports of death threat by JuD and Maoists’ assassination plot.

"We are always serious about the prime minister's security. The Maoists are fighting a losing battle. They are now active only in 10 districts in the country," Singh said at a press conference in Jammu.

On Thursday, the police in Pune told a court that they had seized a "letter" from the Delhi residence of one of the five people arrested on Wednesday for having alleged "links" with the banned CPI (Maoist).

The purported letter allegedly mentioned a plan to "assassinate" Modi in "another Rajiv Gandhi-type incident", the police told the court. 

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Singh, however, said the Naxal violence will die soon as their area of influence has fallen from 135 districts in the country to 90, they are active in only 10 of these.

In another threat to the prime minister, members of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) - a terrorist outfit, on Friday issued an open death threat to Modi. The JuD, led by 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, is the front face of the banned terror group Lashkar-e Taiba (LeT).

"Flag of Islam will be hoisted in India and America. (PM) Modi will be killed. India and Israel will get disintegrated as more and more martyrs will be produced," said senior JuD functionary Maulana Bashir Ahmad Khaki.

The home minister was on a two-day tour of Jammu and Kashmir.

Also Read | Maoist plan to assassinate Narendra Modi in 'Rajiv Gandhi type' incident averted

Asked about the possibility of extending the ongoing ceasefire condition in Jammu and Kashmir beyond Eid, he said an appropriate decision will be taken after reviewing the ground situation and in consultation with all parties concerned.

Maintaining that the Centre's stand since beginning was that New Delhi was willing to talk to everyone, Singh said, "Our neighbouring country Pakistan should prevent terror emanating from its soil." 

Singh also said the Union government was ready to hold talks with all "right-minded" people if not "like-minded", a statement seen as an olive branch to the separatists.

(With PTI inputs)