PM condemns Assam blasts, will take steps to arrest guilty

New Delhi, Oct 30 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh strongly condemned the serial blasts in Assam today and said all possible steps would be taken to maintain peace and bring the perpetrators of such acts to justice.

''Such barbaric acts targeting innocent men, women and children only highlight the desperation and cowardice of those responsible,'' Dr Singh, who represents Assam in the Rajya Sabha, said in a message.

He expressed confidence that the people of the country ''will rise unitedly against these attempts to disturb peace and harmony and to destroy our social fabric.'' The PM offered his sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the blasts and sympathies to those injured.

Earlier today, Dr Singh, who was in the Maharashtra town of Nanded to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the consecration of the Guru Granth Sahib, said, ''We have to fight those forces that are trying to divide the nation.'' ''People should fight terrorism unitedly,'' he said after the news of the terror attack came in.

The blasts are likely to top the agenda of a pre-scheduled meeting of the cabinet the Prime Minister is to chair this evening.

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