New Delhi: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram confirmed that there are threats of terror strikes during the April-May Lok Sabha elections but assured that India was fully prepared to deal with any eventuality.
"Law and order will be maintained and elections will take place peacefully. We have taken all measures. There is no need to panic and there are enough security forces with the Election Commission. Our level of preparedness is based intelligence is gathered on a real time basis. We have checked and stopped infiltration," said Chidambaram addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday.
He ruled out any specific threat from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam during the elections but added that both Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been alerted.
But politics was not far behind and lashing out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Chidambaram said the saffron party was not equipped to fight terrorism.
"Our enemy remains the communal BJP. We cannot fight terrorism if we cannot fight communal forces," he said.
“It is shameful that such a person (Varun Gandhi) has been given ticket. The CD is the primary evidence. Whether it’s doctored or not it will come out during investigations," he replied about BJP giving ticket to Varun Gandhi.
Chidambaram said that only the Congress can tackle terror, unite India because of its strong leadership and ensure peaceful elections.
"A country divided on religious and caste lines cannot fight terrorism. But Congress can because of its history and leadership. It can unite the country to fight communalism and as well as fight terrorist," said Chidambaram.
"Real issues before our government are security, growth, faster and inclusive growth, and communal harmony and peace," he said.
Sounding hopeful that after the elections, the Central government will be formed by secular forces, Chidambaram said all major parties were fighting communal forces and would come together after polls.
"Left is also fighting against communalism in some states. We are fighting communalism in all the states," he said.
Chidambaram said he met leader of the Opposition and BJP prime ministerial candidate LK Advani on Thursday morning to apprise him about the security situation.
"Advani is Leader of Opposition and due to his age I went to his house to discuss his security requirements. I have also discussed with leaders of major political parties the security issues," he said.
He declined to comment on Central Bureau of Investigation giving a clean chit to Congress leader Jagdish Tytler who was accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
"CBI has to file a report in the court. I do not wish to comment on it. It is for the court to decide. But as a Congress party member I am happy that another member of the Congress party has got relief," he said.
However, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad criticised Chidambaram saying the BJP does not need a certificate on its secular credentials.
"We don't need a certificate from Chidambaram about our secular credentials. A party that has done worse appeasement politics is now pointing fingers at us. The way the CBI has given a clean chit to Mr. Tytler in the Sikh massacre of 1984. Chidambaram, look inwards. Terrorists are killing Hindus and Muslims. The country needs to respond in one voice," said Prasad.
"A party who is still in link with Muslim League, is able to execute Afzal Guru, a party whose leader and Prime Minister says minorities have the first right over national resources... what more do you need as far as a patent communal card is concerned? The chequered communal record of the Congress is littered in the history of the country over the past 60 years. People know it too well," the BJP leader added.
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