Prez, Vice Prez, PM condemns serial blasts in AP

New Delhi, Aug 25: President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil tonight condemned the serial blasts in Hyderabad this evening killing at least 36 persons and injuring several others.

The President in a statement said, ''such acts must be strongly condemned as they aimed at disturbing harmony and peace. Persons involved in such actions have no respect for innocent human lives.'' The Vice President expressed profound shock at the twin blast in Hyderabad and condoled the families of those killed in injured and called to maintain peace.

The Prime Minister also condemned the blast and expressed concern.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil condemned the blasts. He will leave for Hyderabad tomorrow to take stock of the situation.

Meanwhile, Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta spoke to the State Chief Secretary and assured him all possible help and said the situation was being monitored constantly.

Union Minister of Woman and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury also condemnded the blasts and said measures are being taken to provide relief to the victims.

Refusing to speculate about who was behind the blasts, she said, ''It was not an attack on Andhra Pradesh alone but the entire country. We should all rise to face the challenges to the national security.'' Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and the State Home Minister have rushed to the blast site to oversee the relief work.

Unofficial sources said the toll of the blasts at the Lumbini park and Gokul Chats could be as high as 50 and number of injured could go up to 100.

The first blast occurred at around 1940 hrs, when more than 500 people were watching the laser show at Lumbini park a few metres away from the high security Andhra Pradesh Secretariat.

UNI