LeT man killed in Lucknow involved in Varanasi blasts: Mulayam

Lucknow, Mar 9: Asserting that the Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist gunned down here yesterday (Mar 8, 2006) was behind the Varanasi serial blasts, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today termed the incident as a ''national issue not restricted to UP.'' Making a reply in the state legislative assembly on a debate on Tuesday's serial blasts, the CM claimed the government had definite clues that Salar alias Sartaj alias Doctor was behind the blasts.

''We had prior information of terrorists' plan to target religious sites and also the fact that Salar was on his way to Lucknow,'' the CM added.

The house, meanwhile, passed a joint resolution condemning the blasts and paying condolences to the dead.

Welcoming the visit of AICC president Sonia Gandhi and Union Home minister Shivraj Patil to Varanasi after the incident, Mr Yadav said no party should take political advantage of the situation.

Yesterday too, he had termed the visit of the two central leaders as pro-active and timely.

He also criticised the Opposition BSP for blaming the SP and BJP for the incident. The CM slammed the BJP for yesterday's state-wide bandh to protest the blasts, observing that the bandh was aimed at creating a law and order problem.

Ruling out a CBI probe into the blasts as demanded by some MLAs, Yadav said the Special Task Force (STF) was capable of solving the case. While admitting that some senior district and police officials were attending the marriage of his nephew in Mainpuri, he said the officials rushed to the spot immediately. ''In fact, the DIG (range) was at nearby Ghazipur.'' ''I am being termed as an ISI agent...I have neither cared for power nor vote bank. I have only fought for India's integrity,'' he said referring to a book by a former IB official.

UNI

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