Tenkasi blasts case raised in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, Apr 30: The matter of the reported involvement of Hindu Munnani activists in the recent Tenkasi bomb blast case in Tamil Nadu today drew loud protests from BJP members for imputing a conspiracy to tarnish the image of the other community.

Replying to a question by CPI-M member Brinda Karat during the Question Hour amid loud protests from the Opposition BJP bench, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said investigations into the Tenkasi bomb blast case had revealed that the blasts were carried out by the accused, Ravi Pandian, due to personal enmity arising from the murder of his brother by some Muslims.

Even as the Left member could finish asking her question, the BJP members started protesting loudly and were appeased only after Chairman Hamid Ansari pleaded that the minister be given a hearing.

''The accused had conspired to give the episode a communal colour so as to invite police action against the other group,'' the Minister told the Upper House.

The two pipe bombs kept outside the RSS office were exploded with the intention of creating communal tension, he said and added that fortunately this did not happen.

Mr S S Ahluwalia (BJP) was on his feet to point out that the incident could not be linked with the Nanded bomb case.

Regarding any connection between the two bomb blasts at Tenkasi with the Nanded blasts in 2006, Mr Patil admitted that a probe by the Tamil Nadu government had not revealed any links.

While not blaming any community, Mr Patil said the Government was concerned over group clashes and similar incidents such as the bomb blasts at Mumbai, Aurangabad, Hyderabad and elsewhere in the name of religion and caste.

UNI