Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Monday said that foolproof security arrangements will be made during the coming visit of the U.S. President Barack Obama to India.
“Foolproof security will be provided during the visit of President Obama and there should be no concern regarding the security of the U.S. President during his visit,’’ Mr. Chidambaram told reporters here while responding to questions about the security arrangements for President Obama's three-day visit beginning on November 6.
He said that U.S. Ambassador Timothy Roemer met him earlier in the day and expressed his satisfaction over the security preparedness in view of President Obama's visit. “The U.S. ambassador met me in connection with President Obama's security. He is fully satisfied,’’ he added.
Admitting that intelligence sharing with the U.S. was “extremely good’’, Mr. Chidambaram said the U.S. has instituted a full scale review of “what they knew and when they knew’’ about David Headley, an American citizen of Pakistani descent who was arrested in October 2009 for his alleged involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. He said the U.S. has promised to share the outcome of the review with India.
Headley issue “blown out of proportion”
Amid concerns in different security quarters of India that the U.S. did not share information relating to David Headley before or after 26/11, Mr. Chidambaram said the issue had been “blown out of proportion.’’ He maintained that the U.S. had shared intelligence with India in the months leading to 26/11 as well as after 26/11, though the name of David Headley was not mentioned. He said the name of David Headley was shared with India sometime in October 2009.
“What they knew about David Headley and when they knew about that and made the connection with 26/11, it is a matter, I am told, under full review in the United States,’’ he told journalists in reply to questions.
Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai recently said that the Home Ministry was ``disappointed’’ that the U.S. did not provide specific information about David Headley, who had plotted the 26/11 Mumbai attacks even though he travelled to India after the 26/11 terror strike.
Asked whether the issue of Headley's extradition will figure in the meetings during the forthcoming visit of President Barack Obama to India, Mr. Chidambaram said "it is an option and, as I said, we will continue to pursue that option.’’
On the possibility of filing a chargesheet against Headley in the Mumbai terror attack, he said it was a decision which has to be taken by the prosecuting agency — National Investigation Agency (NIA) and not by the government.
On counter-terrorism cooperation between the U.S. and India, the Home Minister said the two governments were working on an understanding with reference to a counter-terrorism initiative.
Home Ministry issues alert
Meanwhile, the Home Ministry on the eve of Deepavali and the visit of President Obama asked Maharashtra, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir governments to tighten security, putting their security and intelligence apparatus in a state of maximum alert. Well placed sources said the step was taken in view of
intelligence inputs warning of possible terror strikes, particularly in Delhi, Mumbai and Kashmir Valley.
Sources pointed out that Pak-based militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) had masterminded the Chittisinghpura massacre in Anantnag on March 20, 2000 in which 36 Sikhs were killed to coincide with the visit of the then U.S.President Bill Clinton to India and expressed apprehension that militant outfits may resort to such strikes in Kashmir Valley to divert attention during the high-profile visit.
David Headley had reportedly told NIA officials that LeT terrorist Muzzamil, was behind the Chittisinghpura massacre.
In the general alert to all States and Union Territories, the Home Ministry asked them to deploy additional forces in markets, religious and other public places to keep extra vigil in view of Diwali, which will be celebrated on November 5. In Delhi, Close Circuit Television (CCTV) network was made operational in 10 more busy markets.
