NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani on Tuesday said the terrorist attack in Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, was to divert attention from the assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir, which had gone in India's favour.
"I see a deliberate design in it [the attack]," he told reporters outside his North Block office.
The deputy prime minister said he would go to Gandhinagar to review the situation.
The terrorists wanted to divide the people on communal lines, he said, and appealed to the people of Gandhinagar to maintain peace and amity.
He said 23 people had died in the attack. Out of this, 13 were men, six women and four children. About 30 to 40 devotees were injured.
The Gujarat police and the jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force were combating the terrorists, numbering around four. The terrorist were armed with AK-47 rifles and hand-grenades.
He said he had apprised President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of the attack.
The Gujarat Temple Attack: The Complete Coverage
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
