US Intelligence Warns Of Communal Riots Before Lok Sabha Polls

New Delhi: The United States Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats has warned of a possible communal flare up in the country in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls if the ruling-BJP insists on its nationalists themes.

Coats made his statement as part of US intelligence community’s assessment of worldwide threats in the year 2019. Coats appeared before the Select Committee to present their worldwide threat assessment. CIA Director Gina Haspel, who has just returned from a trip to India, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Robert Ashley were also present during the Senate meeting.

“Parliamentary elections in India increase the possibility of communal violence if BJP stresses nationalist themes,” Coats told the committee in a written statement.

He also warned that increasing communal clashes could alienate Indian Muslims and allow Islamist terrorist groups in India to expand their influence.
Besise, he claimed that cross-border terrorism and strained ties may continue at least till the elections.

“BJP policies during Modi’s first term have deepened communal tensions in some BJP-governed states, and Hindu nationalist state leaders might view a Hindu-nationalist campaign as a signal to incite low-level violence to animate their supporters,” Coats told the committee.

“We judge that cross-border terrorism, firing across the Line of Control (LoC), divisive national elections in India, and Islamabad’s perception of its position with the United States relative to India will contribute to strained India-Pakistan relations at least through May 2019, the deadline for the Indian election, and probably beyond.Political maneuvering resulting from the Indian national elections probably will further constrain near-term opportunities for improving ties,” he said.