Rajeev Chandrasekhar's official website - Member of Parliament

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Home Affairs

 RAJYASABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1949
ANSWERED ON THE DECEMBER 10, 2014/AGRAHAYANA 19, 1936 (SAKA)

 QUESTION
AL-Qaeda and ISIS Plan to Target Indian Cities

 

1949. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state;

(a)   whether it is a fact that according to intelligence inputs, Al-Qaeda and ISIS terror groups are working together to target Indian cities in "multi-city"attacks;

(b)   whether it is also a fact that they conducted reconnaissance missionsin Bengaluru city;

(c)    if so, the details thereof; and

(d)   the steps taken by Government to ensure greater security?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI HARIBHAI PARATHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (c): There are no intelligence inputs to suggest that Al-Qaeda andISIS terror groups are working together to target Indian cities. However,a video was uploaded on 3rdSeptember,2014containing the speech ofSheik Eyam Al-Zawahiri of Al-Qaeda, in which he announced theestablishment of a new Wing of Al-Qaeda, namely "Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent(AQIS)". It is learnt that Asim Umar and Usama Mehmood havebeen appointed as the 'Amir' and 'Spokesperson' respectively of AQIS.

Similarly, Abu Bakar Al-Baghdadi of ISIS in a video, uploaded on 29thJune, 2014 on internet, highlighted the alleged plight of Muslims invarious countries including India and stated that rights of Muslims areforcibly being seized in these countries. However, there are nointelligence inputs about specific threat to Bengaluru city by these twooutfits.

(d): There is a very close and effective coordination amongstintelligence agencies at the Centre and the State levels on intelligencesharing. The Intelligence inputs about possible designs and threats areshared with the State Governments concerned on a regular basis. TheMulti Agency Centre (MAC) has been strengthened and re-organized toenable it to function on 24x7 basis for real time collation and sharing ofintelligence with other intelligence agencies and States, which ensuresseamless flow of information between the State and the Central agencies.This has resulted in busting of many terror modules, thus neutralizingmajor terror attack plans.

In addition, the Government continues to take all necessary steps tosafeguard India's territorial integrity and safety / security of its people.

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