Opposition blames state govt, CM blames IB for UP serial blasts

Lucknow, Nov 23 (UNI) Even as opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh blamed the Bahujan Samaj Party government for its failure to tackle terrorism, Chief Minister Mayawati today termed the serial blasts ''a failure of central intelligence agencies''.

''The central intelligence agencies neither warned UP nor asked the government to stay alert for a possible terrorist strike... it is their failure,'' she asserted while briefing media about the serial blasts.

She said it was unfortunate that the central intelligence agencies (Intelligence Bureau), who are responsible to track the activities of the terrorists in the country, totally failed in performing their duties.

However, she urged the people to maintain peace and calm to prevent the conspiracy of the terrorist organisations to create disturbances in the state.

Meanwhile, Vishwa Hindu Parishad has called for Uttar Pradesh bandh tomorrow in protest against the serial blasts.

Earlier today, opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh had blamed the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for its laxity in controlling terrorist activities in the state, leading to serial blasts on the court permises of three cities today.

Principal opposition Samajwadi Party state working president Shivpal Singh Yadav charged the Mayawati government with making no serious efforts to curb the terrorist activities in the state.

''The BSP government is only interested in transferring officials than making any concrete efforts to counter terrorist activities,'' he said.

The SP leader said the state intelligence had failed to do its work.

Similar views were also expressed by senior BJP leader Keshri Nath Tripathi, claiming that the Mayawati government had failed to protect the lives and property of the people.

''BJP has always mooted for a stringent law to control terrorism in the state and the governments have failed to do so after the repeal of POTA,'' Mr Tripathi, former UP BJP president, said.

He also said the new law, UPCOCA, did not address the terrorism factor. ''It is unfortunate.'' AICC general secretary in-charge of UP affairs Digvijay Singh and UPCC president Rita Bahuguna Joshi met in New Delhi to discuss the situation arising out of the incidents. ''They have requested the people of the state, especially the lawyers to maintain calm,'' said UP Congress chief spokesperson Akhilesh Pratap Singh.

The Centre, meanwhile, condemned the serial bomb blasts and said it was aimed at fomenting communal strife in the country.

Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal told reporters in the national capital that the blasts were the handiwork of terrorists who wanted to divide the country on communal lines. He urged the people to remain united and not allow the nefarious designs of terrorists to be successful.

UNI