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VIPs make a beeline for Gandhinagar

Following Tuesday's terrorist attack on Akshardham temple, in which 28 people were killed, a host of VIPs are flocking to Gujarat.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi is expected to arrive in Ahmedabad on Wednesday evening to visit those who were injured in the attack.

According to state government officials, she will limit her visit to the civil hospital, where most of the injured are being treated.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has cut short his visit to the Maldives and will reach Gujarat either Wednesday or Thursday. He will visit the temple and meet the victims in hospitals in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.

Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani, who represents Gandhinagar in the Lok Sabha, has been camping in the state since Tuesday night. He has been in regular touch with commanders of the National Security Guards, swamis, police officers and others.

Advani, accompanied by Chief Minister Narendra Modi and other senior officials, visited Akshardham on Wednesday morning to assess the situation. He blamed Pakistan for the attack.

Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee president Shankarsinh Vaghela was not far behind. He lashed out at right-wing groups for trying to derive political mileage out of the incident.

He said Hinduism was not theirs "on contract". The Congress had called for a Gujarat bandh on Wednesday. Interestingly, some Muslim leader accompanied Vaghela to the temple.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad also jumped into the fray and called for a nationwide strike on Thursday. VHP leader Pravin Togadia is expected to address a press conference on Wednesday evening.

Gujarat Governor S S Bhandari also came to the temple, where senior officials briefed him.

There is apprehension of communal tension flaring up in Gujarat, which has already seen widespread riots this year. On Tuesday night there was sporadic violence in some parts of Gujarat.

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