Narendra Modi assassination plot: Rajnath Singh reviews PM's security

NEW DELHI: Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Monday reviewed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security in the backdrop of a communication between individuals linked to Maoist outfits revealing a plot to assassinate him. Sources told TOI that the threat was being taken "very seriously" and the deliberations at the meeting focused on further strengthening the PM's security apparatus to effectively neutralise all possible threats.

The home ministry has already received a report from the Maharashtra police regarding the communication found from the Delhi residence of activist Rona Wilson, one of the five arrested last week for alleged Maoist links and their role in the Bhima-Koregaon violence. It contains references to targeting the Prime Minister with "another Rajiv Gandhi incident", supposedly pointing to an assassination plot.

"While the PM's security is of the highest level, today's meeting discussed if the standard operating procedures can be further tightened. An overview will be taken by the expert committee in this regard," a home ministry official told TOI.

The meeting was attended by national security adviser Ajit Doval, home secretary Rajiv Gauba and intelligence bureau director Rajiv Jain. "The home minister directed that all necessary measures be taken in consultation with other agencies to suitably strengthen the security arrangements for PM," said a home ministry release.

While the Congress has demanded a probe into the alleged assassination plot against PM Modi and asked the issue not to be politicised, NCP boss Sharad Pawar on Sunday dismissed the threat letter as an attempt to garner sympathy. Speaking at a rally, Pawar said, "The BJP has realised that they are losing popular support. In order to gain sympathy, the BJP is now playing the threat letter card. However, I am sure that the people will not fall prey to such tactics."

At a press conference on Monday, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said casting aspersions on the plot to assassinate Prime Minister of the country is the lowest level of country's politics and unbecoming of a senior leader like Sharad Pawar. "There should not have been politics over the issue.. The country has witnessed assassination of two Prime Ministers. Unfortunately, the party which lost its leaders is also not sensitive over the issue," Javadekar said.