Venkaiah Naidu seeks joint probe into bomb blasts

Bangalore, May 19 (UNI) Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Leader Venkaiah Naidu today urged the Centre to order a Joint Central-State probe into yesterday's bomb blasts at the Mecca Mosque in which 14 people were killed.

Condemning the blast, he told newsmen here that there was need for a coordinated effort to bring the culprit to book. He also wanted the Centre to constitute special courts to ensure speedy trial of terrorists, pointing out the delay in cases relating to the blasts in Mumbai.

Accusing the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government of mixing terrorism with religion, Mr Naidu said terrorists have no religion.

Commenting on yesterday's blasts, he said it was a well thought out and planned attack aimed at weakening the country. This was not an isolated incident.

He said Hyderabad was emerging a breeding ground for terrorists.

He stressed the need for reintroduction of the POTA (Prevention of Terrorists Activities ACt).

Turning to state politics, he expressed confidence that the BJP would be taking over the mantle from Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy after the 20 month tenure. On charges that former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda was blackmailing the BJP, he said the party had forged alliance with the JD(S) and not the former Prime Minsiter.

Expressing as unfortunate, the BJP's dismal performance in the UP Assembly elections, he however was happy that the single party rule had been re-established in that state. He however said UP Chief Minister Mayawati would not be having an easy time in ruling the state.

UNI