Was Centre told of terrorists manipulating stocks?

New Delhi, Feb 15: The BJP today sought to know whether National Security Adviser M K Narayanan had informed the Centre about manipulation of stock exchanges by terrorists and Jehadi elements and the follow up action.

Reacting to the assertions of Mr Narayanan to this effect at Munich, Germany, BJP Spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy wanted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to answer if the NSA had kept him informed about terrorists manipulating the stock exchanges and other legitimate businesses and the actions taken to prevent the misuse.

The NSA's statement, he said, was 'intriguing' as he had poured his heart out before the international community and not to his own people at home. His statement had only confirmed BJP's assertions that the Jehadi elements were misusing Indian soil and the government was going soft on terror and its perpetrators. This also reflects on the intelligence collection and follow up system, he said.

The first thing the UPA government after it came to power was to repeal POTA with 'erroneous presumption' that it would win over support from a community forgetting that they, too, were 'nationalists' and the law had provisions to track down and penalise all those funding terror activities. Now Mr Narayanan is stating that Pakistan is pumping millions of dollars through its 'official agencies' for stoking militancy in India along with placement funds, Mr Rudy said.

He said the NSA had spoken of attempts to bring in fake currency notes through Bangladesh borders in a big way, but the government was busy to aid illegal immigration by bringing IMDT provisions, he alleged. The NSA, he said, has the responsibility of theorising but also has a role to assist the government to act. "Unfortunately it seems that he is not accountable to the nation or to PM but as a 'family advisor' to No. 10 Janpath," he remarked.

BJP Vice-President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in a separate statement said Mr Narayanan had reduced himself to the level of Weather department official predicting rains or drought. If he had conveyed his perceptions to the government, it had not reflected in actions.

"His job is to safeguard India's concerns but he seems busy spreading threat perception time to time without acting to redress fears and apprehensions," he remarked.

UNI