Narendra Modi's security top priority of government, says Rajnath Singh

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security was the top priority of the government after Pune police claimed it had uncovered a Maoist plot to assassinate him.

"We are always serious about the prime minister's security. The Maoists are fighting a losing battle. They are now active only in 10 districts in the country," he told a press conference, adding that the assassination plot was a hollow threat.

The home minister said Maoist influence was spread across 135 districts of the country. "Now it has come down to 90 districts. This is the achievement of our four years of rule and if we go further in describing it, only ten districts have been left where there is high influence of Maoists," he said.

"As far as the Maoists are concerned, they are fighting a lost battle. Extremism by Maoists has shown a significant decrease ( in the country)," Singh said at a press conference here.

The Home Minister made these remarks while speaking at an event in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara.

Singh, who reached Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday for a two-day visit, also visited the border belts of Kupwara and R S Pura. He also addressed a sports conclave in Srinagar.