Terming the twin bomb blasts at the historic Jama Masjid in Old Delhi area of the national capital on Friday evening as a desperate attempt by divisive forces to disturb the communal harmony in the country, Jama Masjid's Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari asked the people not to allow the terrorists to succeed in their nafarious design.
"First, there was an attack at the Sankat Mochan Temple in Varanasi. Arrests were made in connection with the blasts. But the real culprits, who want to create hatred between Hindus and Muslims, are still roaming around freely and they have carried out the blasts in the mosque," Bukhari said.
Two blasts rock Benaras, 20 killed
He said the ambitions of the terrorists to disturb communal harmony could not be fulfilled in Varanasi and yet again their efforts will prove futile. The Imam also made a fervent appeal to the people to maintain calm.
Describing the blasts as part of a 'set pattern' to disturb the communal harmony in the country, All India Muslim Personal Law Board asked the community not to fall prey in the hands of the divisive forces.
"This is a set pattern aimed to divide the society on the basis of religion," AIMPLB spokesman S Q R Ilyas told PTI.
Ilyas said the blasts, both at Sankat Mochan in Varanasi last month and at Jama Masjid, had the same pattern, indicating that the communal forces were out there to divide the society on religion.
"Attacking religious places only shows the intent of these forces to divide the society on the lines of religion," he said.
Condemning the blasts, well-known Muslim activist Shabnam Hashmi said, "It is immaterial who is behind the explosions. What is important is that we should not fall prey to the intentions of the people behind it."