New Delhi, July 31 (IANS) Islamist terrorists are planning to strike at Indian nuclear and military installations, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Monday, adding that the government was ready with plans to thwart the attacks.

"The information that is available with the security agencies is that (Pakistan-backed) LeT (Lashkar-e-Toiba) modules are planning to carry out some strikes against critical infrastructure items, military targets and religious places," Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha.

Responding to concerns raised by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader V.K. Malhotra during zero hour, he said: "It had been evident for some time now that the scope of such terrorist activities is on the increase.

"As regards items of critical infrastructure, reports indicate a possibility of a nuclear installation being considered," Mukherjee said.

Drawing the government's attention to media reports quoting National Security Advisor (NSA) M.K. Narayanan as saying that LeT was targeting India's nuclear installations, Malhotra and Leader of opposition L.K. Advani asked whether the government was aware of such threats.

"This is a serious matter," Advani said.

Pointing out that the government has taken the information "very seriously", Mukherjee said: "Activities of the Pakistan-based LeT have been continuously and carefully monitored by our security and intelligence agencies.

"A series of special security measures have already been taken and some are under consideration to prevent any such attempt from succeeding," the minister assured the house.

"The house must appreciate that it is on the basis of advance intelligence that necessary steps are being taken to protect our vital installations and other high profile targets," Mukherjee said.

"The government will take all possible steps to see that these attacks do not fructify," he said.

The BJP leaders took strong objection to a statement made by Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal Sunday that there was no threat at all.

"The parliament is in session and the minister should not have talked about such issues outside it," Malhotra said.

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee agreed with the opposition.

"I wish the statement had been made here and not outside. I myself wanted to say that. However, the government has responded, and I am sure that they will keep that in mind," he said.