Hold high level probe into Varanasi attack: Cong

New Delhi, Mar 8 (UNI) The Congress today demanded a ''high level probe'' into yesterday's terrorist attack at Varanasi and exemplary punishment to those responsible for the heinous crime.

Holding the Varanasi administration and the Mulayam Singh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh responsible for the incident, party spokesman Rajiv Shukla said they had failed to take pre-emptive action despite the Centre passing on intelligence reports on the possibility of attacks at religious places.

While the Maharashtra government had strengthened security at the Sidhi Vinayak temple in Mumbai, the same was not the case with the UP government, he said.

Mr Shukla also criticised the BJP for announcing an ''ekta yatra'' (pilgrimage for national integration) and said it was rather a ''danga (riots) yatra'' which would divide society and the nation.

Asked why the UPA government was not acting against such yatras if it felt it would stoke communal violence, he said ''pre-emptive'' measures cannot be taken against Mr L K Advani, who was Leader of Opposition.

However, if the yatra led to some trouble, law would take its own course, he said.

UNI SH/SN RP KN1755