Rodrigues, leaders condemn bomb blast in Ludhiana

Chandigarh, Oct 15 (UNI) Punjab Governor and Administrator, Chandigarh, Gen (Retd) S F Rodrigues today expressed profound grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in the bomb blast incident in Ludhiana.

Condemning the incident, Gen Rodrigues stressed that there was no place for violence and disruptive activities in a democratic set up.

He appealed to the people to maintain calm and peace and extend a helping hand to the kin of the deceased and the injured, in this unfortunate tragedy.

Punjab Pradesh Congress chief Rajunder Kaur Bhattal also expressed grief over the incident and said this was an attempt by divisive forces to dirupt the communal harmony in the state and appealed to the people to not to fall in their trap and maintain peace.

While leaving for Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Ms Bhattal termed the incident as a ''failure on part of the state government which had been unable to take pre-emptive steps to avert the incident despite intelligence warnings.'' A meeting of Akali Dal (Badal), chaired by working president Sukhbir Badal, also condemed the blast and expressed sympathies with the families of the victims.

The meeting resolved to maintain peace and order in the state at all costs and appealed to the public to cooperate in the endeavour.

State BJP president Rajinder Bhandari blamed the ''weak willpower of the Central government to deal with the terror forces'' for Ludhiana-like incidents and stressed that such forces must be dealt with a heavy hand.

He also extended heart-felt sympathies with the members of the victims' families and urged the public to be vigilant and maintain peace.

UNI