Since Cong involved, this shouldn't be taken lightly: Subramanian Swamy on 'plot to assassinate PM Modi'

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Subramanian Swamy said on Friday that he has spoken to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval over the news regarding the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assassination plot and said the matter must not be taken lightly.

Swamy made the comments after the Pune Police revealed that they have intercepted an internal communication of the Maoists plotting to kill Prime Minister Modi in 'Rajiv Gandhi-type' assassination.Swamy told ANI, "I called up National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and spoke to him regarding this matter. I'll be writing a letter to him on Monday. Since the Congress party is also involved or has been named, this shouldn't be taken lightly. There is no doubt that PM Modi has been our star campaigner and has influenced our performance."

He also urged all investigative agencies to take note of the matter and deal it at the highest level.

Reacting to the remark made by Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam, who called it "planted" information, Swamy slammed the grand old party for saying such 'untested things'.

On Thursday, the Pune police told a court that they were in possession of a letter, seized from the residence of one of the five people, who have been arrested in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon violence, which talks about the assassination of Prime Minister Modi in Rajiv Gandhi-type incident.

Opposition in Maharashtra today questioned the government's claim of a Maoist conspiracy to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling it a possible attempt to divert attention or gain sympathy.Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam said Modi spreads such information to "gain sympathy".

"It needs to be investigated whether this info is correct or not and this is also true that Mr Modi is habitual of spreading such false info to gain sympathy particularly when his popularity declines," Nirupam said on Twitter.Pune police, who have arrested five persons for alleged Maoist links, yesterday claimed that ultras were planning to target the prime minister.

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said that claims of existence of such a conspiracy appeared to be an attempt to divert attention from the main issues related to the Bhima-Koregaon violence in Pune district earlier this year.Police should have investigated the matter before seeking remand of the accused citing the alleged conspiracy, he said.

"The information should have been probed first instead of citing it as a ground to seek remand. It goes on to show that there is an attempt to do a publicity stunt," the NCP leader alleged.

A letter found in the house of Delhi-resident Rona Wilson, arrested for alleged Maoist "links", talks about the ultras mulling "Rajiv Gandhi-type incident" and suggesting that Modi should be targeted during his road shows, according to the Pune police.

Wilson was among five people arrested from Mumbai, Nagpur and Delhi in connection with 'Elgar Parishad' held in Pune in December and the subsequent Bhima-Koregaon violence.