The Hindu : Leaders condemn attack on temples

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 26, 2002

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Leaders condemn attack on temples

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI NOV. 25. There has been widespread condemnation of the terrorist attack on the Raghunath Mandir and the Shiv Mandir in Jammu. But questions have also been raised about a possible lapse in security leading to the attack.

The former Prime Minister, H. D. Deve Gowda, while condemning the attacks said in a statement "How militants could gain entry into the temple without detection at any stage should be looked into. Such heinous militant attacks are to be expected till the over-all situation improves. The State and Central governments should take more effective and vigilant measures to prevent such sneaking militant attacks.''

The Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya) said in its statement that the attack on the temples "demonstrates that the State police and intelligence are not adequately equipped'' and that it expected the new State Government to take strong action "against those terrorists coming from the border''.

The CPI (M) politburo, echoing the Deputy Prime Minister's statement in Parliament said that the attacks "are clearly meant to heighten communal tensions and provoke reactions and disrupt peace.'' The CPI said that the attack showed the desperation of the militants, after the successful elections. While it supported efforts for a dialogue it held that "the healing process should not mean lowering of vigilance or cessation of activity by the security forces against the extremists active at the behest of the neighbouring country.''

The Rajya Sabha MP, Karan Singh, expressed shock that "despite the earlier attack the security arrangements at the temple were not strengthened to prevent another one.'' He called it "a failure of the administration and law and order machinery.''

Blackwill meets Advani

The U.S. ambassador, Robert Blackwill, met the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani to express his indignation at the attack. Following the meeting Mr. Blackwill said that he had told Mr. Advani "it was hard to think of human beings who would plan and think of attacks like this, knowing that the victims would be innocent women and children.''

The All- India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, said it was a "deliberate strategy to incite communal violence and disrupt the healing process in the State.

The National Minorities Commission specially convened a meeting, chaired by Justice Mohammed Shamim, to condemn the attack. It appealed to "all to maintain peace at this critical stage''.

The Kashmir Committee in a statement condemning the attacks said that all three rounds of its talks with separatist leaders in Kashmir had ended with joint statements, which stressed the commitment to finding a solution through peaceful means and denouncing violence. Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselious, Chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India expressed anguish at attacks "at sacred places where people come out to pray''.

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