Amidst the Opposition expressing concern over ISIS threat to India, the Government assured the Parliament on Wednesday there was no cause to “worry.” Various inputs including those from the intelligence agencies did not indicate that the radical organisation had managed to get a foot hold in the country due to Indian ethos, culture and secularism, both the houses were informed.
Moreover, the Government was keeping a close watch on gullible youth getting influenced by ISIS ideology and efforts were on to de-radicalise them, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said in the Rajya Sabha and lok Sabha respectively.
The Home Minister said there was no cause for “worry” adding some youths who got influenced by the ISIS were de-radicalised. Apart from this, the Government was giving loans and other job opportunities to educated Muslim youth to prevent them from getting swayed by the ISIS. He made this observation when some members said majority of youth getting influenced by the ISIS were educated and unemployed.
Congress member Digvijaya Singh referred to some US-based intelligence websites and said these had claimed that Saifullah, who was killed in an encounter in UP recently, was linked to the ISIS. He wanted to know the Government's position on this. The Home Minister replied that the investigation in the case was going on.
His Deputy Minister of State Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said about 80 people suspected to be influenced by the ISIS ideology were held in the country and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was looking in all the aspects.
He said in Kerala, it was suspected that 22 people had left the country to join ISIS and for 16, the Government has worked to get Interpol notices issued. Such action has not been taken regarding the women and children among them, he said.
Asserting that India has a population of around 17 crore Muslims and the number of people influenced is “quite miniscule.” There is no reason to worry, he said. The Minister added that religious leaders have also urged people to maintain distance from such terrorist organisations.
In the lok Sabha, Swaraj said 50 radicalised Indian youth have crossed over to the “other side,” but the Indian ethos and culture have ensured that the menace has not taken dangerous proportions in the country. The issue of radicalisation is not limited to Jammu & Kashmir but other States as well and the entire world too, she said.
Responding to supplementaries during the Question Hour, Swaraj said 50 radicalised Indian youth have crossed over to the “other side (us taraf gaye).” She, however, did not specify where they have gone.
She said the Centre has already launched an anti- radicalisation programme with states to ensure that the youths are not misled.
The Minister credited the “Indian ethos and culture for the minimal damage radicalisation has caused” in India. She said secularism, the watchful eyes of parents and the belief that violence is not good, have helped the country.
The Minister also said India is set to host a conference of ASEAN nations on de-radicalisation but the venue has not yet been finalised. Besides de-radicalisation, cross-border terrorism is the other topic of the conference.
She said the Government will consider the “positive” suggestion of Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) that 'ulemas' (Muslim scholars) of ASEAN countries should also be invited as they have successfully helped check radicalisation in their respective nations.