Chennai blasts: BJP says threat to leaders

In the wake of Chennai blasts, the BJP said there is threat to leaders as well as to the environment for holding free and fair elections and asked the government not to show any laxity on the security front.

New Delhi: In the wake of Chennai blasts, the BJP on Thursday said there is threat to leaders as well as to the environment for holding free and fair elections and asked the government not to show any laxity on the security front.

Conveying condolences to the kin of the deceased and sympathies to those injured, the main opposition party said there were enough indications that forces inimical to India and the forces which are trying to create disharmony in the country have remained active through the election process. "BJP expresses its note of caution at the moment when such a grave attack has happened. The threat which we spoke about at the beginning of election persists, not just for BJP leadership and BJP rallies, but for the conduct of free and fair polling," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters. "We want harmonious environment in which the elections should be taking place, whereas forces inimical to India are even now attempting to disturb peace with which elections should take place," she said, adding: "I think the Government of India should be cautious and absolutely careful not to relax even for a minute. The threat continues." She said the threat to disturb the environment, wherein free and fair poll should be held, is very much there and government should not show any laxity on the security front. Sitharaman said such incidents discourage voters to go to polling booths who go to polling stations with peace on their minds, is being constantly threatened. "Enough care should be taken to maintain peace and harmony and prevention of such attacks should be in the minds of the government," she said. "Not only are we concerned about the safety and security of the BJP rallies, Narendra Modi`s rallies, the threat perception is something which we were worried about and we did highlight it to (Home Minister) Sushikumar Shinde," she said.