Indian Defence minister asks states to be on utmost vigil

Kasaragod, Apr 11 (PTI) A day after Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh warned of a "serious threat" from
terrorists to the parliamentary election process, Defence
Minister A K Antony Saturday asked state governments to
maintain utmost vigil to defeat their designs.

"We have solid information that the militants are
plotting to hatch conspiracy within and outside the country to
subvert the poll process and tarnish the image of democratic
India. State governments must exercise close vigil in coastal
belts," Antony said at an election meeting here in southern
state of Kerala.

Responding to a question about reports that Taliban
terrorists have infiltrated to India, Singh had yesterday said
"There is a serious threat, there is no doubt about that."

He had said the terrorists have neither given up their
efforts to destabilise India nor abandoned their efforts to
interfere with the poll process.

Antony said people "by and large are happy" with the
performance of the Manmohan Singh government and UPA would
come back to power after the polls.

Canvassing for the UDF nominee Shahida Kamal
contesting from Kasaragod, Antony asked the voters to exercise
their right to franchise for a government that would ensure
sustained growth, stability, secularism and peace. PTI COR
PMR
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