Malegaon: Sonia Gandhi visits blasts sites

Malegaon, Sep 9: UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi today described the twin blasts in this textile town of North Maharashtra as a ''dastardly act'' aimed to divide the people of India.

Interacting with the media after visiting the blasts sites and the hospitals where the injured are being treated, Ms Gandhi said she was in the city to see the damage caused by the blasts and express condolences to the victims families.

''The perpetrators of the crime will not succeed in their designs as we are one and united,'' she said.

Ms Gandhi was accompanied by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Mr Patil said the police and the intelligence machinery is doing their best to book the culprits responsible for the terror attack.

''Whatever neccessary is being done. The Centre and the State are co-operating and intelligence is being shared,'' he added.

The Union Home Minister said the only way to thwart the perpetrators' aim was by maintaining communal harmony. He appreciated the resilience shown by both the communities after the terrorist attacks.

UNI