ISI has armed thousands of jehadis to spread terror: Singhal

Varanasi, Mar 8 (UNI) Condemning the serial bomb blasts here yesterday, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) president Ashok Singhal today claimed the Pakistan's secret service, the ISI, had armed thousands of jehadi elements in the country to spread terror and kill people.

Addressing mediapersons here this evening, Ms Singhal maintained that a large quantity of AK-47 assault rifles had been provided to the jehadis by the ISI for the purpose.

''ISI and the madarsas functioning in the country are responsible for the ghastly act in the temple town,'' he alleged.

The VHP president also underlined that the same elements who carried out attacks at the Akshardham Temple in Gujarat, Ram Janmabhoomi complex in Ayodhya and the national capital on the eve of Diwali last year were responsible for the Varanasi blasts.

He claimed at least 54 people were killed in the twin blasts and 48 bodies had already been identified by the VHP. However, he did not provide the details.

''The government is deliberately trying to keep the casualty figures down so that the compensation does not reach the right people,'' he asserted and even alleged misappropriation of funds in this regard.

Referring to the visit of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and union home minister Shivraj Patil to Varanasi in the aftermath of the blasts, the VHP leader said the two leaders came only to shed ''crocodile tears.'' Lambasting as ''useless,'' the probes in such terror cases, Singhal said the need of the hour was to take pre-emptive steps like the US and the UK.

''We need to identify terrorists and eliminate them before they spread terror in the country,'' he emphasised.

Earlier, Ms Singhal visited the blast site and met the wounded recuperating in hospital.

UNI ARS/VS VD ND1748