Author: Aman Sharma, ET Bureau
Publication: The Economic Times
Date: October 26, 2013
URL: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/rahul-gandhis-isi-statement-ends-up-spooking-intelligence-bureau/articleshow/24718106.cms

Introduction : Cong scion’s remark that Pak spies are trying to indoctrinate Muslims in Muzaffarnagar has triggered a storm with sleuths refusing to back him and the Opposition and Muslim leaders attacking him

The home ministry has been left stumped by Rahul Gandhi's assertion that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was attempting to influence youths from the Muslim community in Muzaffarnagar in UP, with three senior officials telling ET that they have not come across any such input.

 "I have not come across any such file," a senior ministry functionary told ET on Friday, requesting not to be identified because he did not want to appear publicly contradicting the Congress vice-president.

 Another senior ministry official explained that information of this nature would have been shared with the Uttar Pradesh government by the home ministry, and that was "certainly not" the case.

 Mukul Goel, the additional director-general of police (law & order) of Uttar Pradesh, said the UP Police too was not aware of the information mentioned by Rahul Gandhi in his speech. "Neither the home ministry nor Intelligence Bureau (IB) has shared any such input with us. We are completely unaware of this," Goel said.

 In Delhi, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde ducked questions on whether he was aware of the developments now made public by Gandhi. "I would not like to speak on this matter," Shinde said.

 An IB official suggested that Gandhi may have been confused by the information he purportedly received from an agency official as there was some talk within the intelligence outfit lately that ISI or other subversive elements may attempt to indoctrinate disgruntled Muslim youth in Muzaffarnagar after the riots.

 "Generally, after every major riot, there is apprehension in intelligence circles that subversive elements may try to exploit the situation as such areas become a fertile ground for indoctrination. So, informally, all agencies are advised to be on alert for any such development," the IB official said, indicating the same process was being followed after Muzaffarnagar riots.

 One home ministry official said it was possible that some "enthusiastic" IB official may have jumped the gun by briefing Gandhi on a development that had still not happened or the Congress vice-president may have simply "misunderstood" the issue.

 Addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday, Gandhi said: "A couple of days ago, an intelligence officer walked into my office and told me that people from Pakistan are talking to the relatives of Muslims killed in Muzaffarnagar. The officer told me he has been trying to convince victims not to get swayed by Pakistani propaganda."

 His comments have triggered a political firestorm, drawing attacks from political rivals and Muslim leaders.

 Opposition parties have questioned in what capacity was Gandhi being briefed by IB when he was not a part of the government and not sworn to secrecy.

 However, an official said collecting political intelligence was an "unsaid role" of Intelligence Bureau and its officials do speak to politicians across the spectrum, with the frequency of such interactions increasing when elections are round the corner.

 The home ministry is, however, tight-lipped on whether IB officials can inform politicians about internal security issues while interacting with them.

 Former IB chief Arun Bhagat said there was no bar on IB officials meeting politicians. "Rahul Gandhi is an MP too. Intelligence officials have to be in touch with everybody. It is, however, not clear in what circumstances he was briefed by an IB official - whether it was a formal meeting or simply a casual conversation," Bhagat said.