BJP condemns serial blasts, appeals to maintain peace

New Delhi, May 14 (UNI) The BJP today strongly condemned yesterday's serial blasts in Jaipur in which at least 63 people were killed, saying "it is a grim reminder to the entire nation that India is a soft state that can be attacked by terrorists at will." The Party said the militants chose Tuesday evening and areas in the vicinity of temples, market places and historical monuments not only to cause "maximum loss to human life" but also to disturb communal harmony.

The party however appealed to the people to remain "calm but firm".

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, terming the serial blasts as handiwork of anti-national and terrorists forces, said that was intended to 'stoke violence'.

Appealing for peace, he assured the people that the whole nation was with them in their hour of grief and no amount of condemnation was strong enough to deplore the dastardly acts of terrorism.

Leader of the Opposition L K Advani said targeting unsuspecting citizens, had become a pattern of the terrorists' war on India. The incident had yet again underscored that "this threat of our internal security cannot be belittled.

Party President Rajnath Singh, condemning the blasts, said the BJP would support the Government in any action against terrorists.

He however criticised the Government for withdrawing POTA which was deterrant to terrorists act. He said at least four states, including Maharashtra and Karnataka, had anti-terrorists laws on the lines of POTA.

While emphassing the need for a strong anti-terrorist act, he said there was a strong question mark on the national commitment against terrorists. The Government must stop soft-pedaling to deal terrorism,he added.

Party General Secretary Arun Jaitley in a statement said the object of the terrorists was to create panic, insecurity and tension in society.

He said it was a time to strengthen national resolve to fight terror."The Indian nation and the Indian people must realise that the war against terror cannot be won with kid gloves but by the determination of its people, and by polices and actions of the government and security agencies." The BJP, he said, wanted a professional and nationalist approach to be taken by the government to deal with terrorism, as opposed to its vote bank policy.

He said recent terrorist attacks have been masterminded by HUJI, a Bangladesh-based outfit which had links to Al-Qaeda and supported by ISI. He called for strengthening of the intelligence network, saying infiltrators from Bangladesh might be potential "sleeper cells" who were providing logistical support to the cross-border terrorist groups.

UNI KAS SB VC1655