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All parties condemn attack on temple

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday condemned the terrorist attack on the Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar and appealed to people to maintain peace and communal harmony in the face of grave provocation.

A brief statement from Gandhi's office said the attack was a matter of grave concern and deserved to be universally condemned.

"I condemn the attack with all the resources at my command," her statement said, indicating that the party would make a detailed statement later.

Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav also deplored the attack and indicated that it could have been inspired by Pakistan. He urged the citizens of Gandhinagar not to be provoked by the attack, which was clearly aimed at fanning communal flames.

Yadav also criticised the central government, emphasizing that it had failed to provide security to citizens.

Communist Party of India, Marxist, leader Somnath Chatterjee, who is in Kolkata, said, "This is a tragedy of immense proportions, which we unequivocally condemn. It is designed to trigger communal passions in the city and, indeed, Gujarat state and I hope people will desist from indulging in communal violence."

Chatterjee said "hostile and anti-national forces" had deliberately selected Gujarat to incite communal mischief and people had to be on guard against such designs. He said it was important for all concerned to rise above narrow considerations to deal sternly with the terrorists.

Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Ray pointed out that the Gandhinagar attack was "an outrageous act of terrorism with the intention of turning the majority and the minority communities against each other".

Appealing for calm and communal amity, he said, "These anti-national forces have to be resoundingly defeated if the country is to survive in a united fashion."

Ray, a legislator in West Bengal, said that by carrying out such attacks with impunity, the terrorists were striking at "the very roots of India's unity and integrity", which needs to be preserved at all costs.

Supercop K P S Gill, who was security adviser to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for a few months after the riots earlier this year, said, "It is a great provocative act, but the people mustn't lose their cool."

He maintained that the first and foremost task of the state government was to provide security to the minorities against any retaliation. To this end, he said, the affected area should be placed under curfew.

He condemned the incidents of slogans being raised against Muslims in Gandhinagar as shown on television and pointed out that news channels should avoid telecasting such scenes.

In Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu strongly condemned the attack and appealed to the people to remain calm and not get provoked.

In a statement, he offered his condolences to the families of the victims and urged the central government and the Government of Gujarat to take prompt and firm action to tackle the situation.

"The nation cannot be held hostage to the acts of misguided elements indulging in senseless violence," he said. "These are the handiwork of vested interests, who are out to disturb the law-and-order situation in the country."

The chief minister said it was the duty of every citizen to maintain peace and harmony in the face of such acts so as to defeat the nefarious designs of anti-social elements.

With Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

The Temple Attack: Complete Coverage
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