Islamist terror groups in Bangladesh a threat to India: BJP

Agartala, Oct 4: Bangladesh has become the breeding ground for young recruits of various Islamist terror groups, including the Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami (HuJI), which is considered Al Qaeda's operating arm in South Asia, said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Rajnath Singh here Saturday.

"HuJI has floated a political party, Islamic Democratic Party (IDP) with permission from the caretaker government in Dhaka and consolidating its position in Bangladesh and boasts a membership of over 15,000 activists," Singh told journalists.

"These developments could have serious implications on India's internal security as the perpetrators of terror attacks in India are trying to gain political legitimacy in Bangladesh."

The BJP president arrived in Agartala Saturday to take stock of the situation following serial bombings in the city Wednesday in which about 100 people were wounded.

He met some of the injured victims at the hospital here and announced compensation from the party.

"Agartala blasts is the handiwork of terrorists from the Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) backed by the Bangladesh based HuJI," Singh said.

"New Delhi should lodge a protest with Dhaka for harbouring terrorists who are now trying to hide under the garb of political activists," the BJP leader said.

"The UPA government should deport all illegal immigrants who came to India from Bangladesh after March 1971."

The BJP president demanded an urgent all party meeting to be convened by the central government to discuss the issue of terrorism afflicting the country.

"HuJI has been using illegal immigrants from Bangladesh to carry out serial blasts in several cities in India," Singh said.

"Illegal immigrants from across the border formed the backbone of nearly 5,000 sleeper cells existing in India."

The BJP president called for stringent laws to deal with terrorism.

"BJP is also worried over the fact that the nefarious designs of the jihadis have now spread to the northeastern states," Singh said. "The central government has failed to protect the internal and external security of the nation, solving the farmers' problems, unemployment, and food security."