ISIS link row: Ahmed Patel writes to Rajnath, seeks probe

Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, Ahmed Patel, has written a letter to Union home Minister Rajnath Singh, urging him to order an 'impartial' probe into the ISIS link row.

The Congress leader's letter comes in the wake of Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) allegations in connection with a nabbed ISIS terrorist who was learnt to be working in a hospital associated with him.

In a letter to the home minister, Patel said: "As a Member of Parliament of India, who has taken an oath to uphold the sovereignty and the integrity of India, I call upon you to take cognizance of the matter and as the Home Minister of India instruct relevant law enforcement agencies to take this investigation to its logical end in an impartial and objective manner, in a manner which befits such a serious offence. Those guilty, irrespective of faith or any affiliation must be brought to justice. Your government has my unstinted support in this endeavour."

He further said that matters of national security should not be politicised and reduced to "baselessly maligning political opponents for petty electoral gains".

"We should rise above political differences in matters which involve national security. Framing terror charges must be done by law enforcement agencies and the judiciary and not by political leaders in press conferences from party headquarters."

Gujarat Chief Minister had demanded Patel's resignation over his alleged ISIS link.

"If Ahmed Patel was a patron of hospital from where two suspected ISIS terrorists were arrested then should he be not held responsible," Rupani had said during a press briefing here.

Earlier on October 25, the Gujarat anti-terrorism squad (ATS) arrested two suspected ISIS operatives-- Kasim Timberwala and Aabed Mirza-- ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls. One of the nabbed terrorists Kasim was employed with a hospital, associated with Patel, as a technician.

"My party and I appreciate the ATS's effort to nab the two terrorists. I demand strict and speedy action against them. The allegations put forward by BJP are completely baseless (sic)," he posted on Twitter.

Patel, however, refuted all allegation levelled against him and requested the BJP not to politicise the issue in wake of the upcoming Assembly elections in Gujarat.