‘Threat to national security averted’

In a statement on Tuesday’s blast on Bhopal-Ujjain train in Madhya Pradesh and the subsequent anti-terror operations in that state as well as in Uttar Pradesh, he said NIA will carry out further investigations into the matter. 

“Due to the prompt action taken by the police of both the states, a possible threat to national security was successfully averted,” Singh said. He said while the Uttar Pradesh police shot dead suspected terrorist  Mohammad Saifullah on Wednesday, six suspects have been arrested by  cops in Madhya Pradesh and UP on  terror charges. The Home Minister showered praise on Saifullah’s father Sartaj who has refused to take the body of his son. 

Sartaj has said that if his son “could not be loyal to the country, how can he be ours?” “The government is proud of him and I am sure Parliament too is,” Singh said as members thumped the desks in appreciation. 

The Home Minister informed the House that eight pistols, 630 live cartridges, Rs 1.5 lakh, three mobiles phone, four sim cards, two wireless sets and some foreign currency were recovered from the place where Saifullah lived. 

Meanwhile, the Congress attacked the government on the recurrence of racial killings of Indians in the US.  “Why Modi government is silent?” Lok Sabha Congress floor leader M Mallikarju Kharge questioned the Prime Minister. He insisted that as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was not keeping well, the Prime Minister himself should make a statement in the House. 

He was soon supported by other Opposition members including Saugata Roy of Trinamool Congress, Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJD), Jithender Reddy (TRS) and Mohammed Salim (CPI-M). 

Deputy Speaker M Thambiduari also said the issue was serious and demanded prompt actions from the Indian government. He said such racial attacks were also taking place in Australia. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan disallowed adjournment Motion on the issue but allowed the members to make their point.