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We are not soft on terror: Manmohan

Guwahati: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here on Saturday the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was not going soft on terror and if any other country was involved in terror attacks, India would take up the matter with that government.

Dr. Singh visited those injured in Thursday’s serial blasts in Guwahati. Asked by journalists at the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital whether his government would take up the blasts issue with Bangladesh, he said: “If other governments are involved we will take it up with them also.”

Dr. Singh, however, said investigations were on and it would not be proper on his part to comment on the probe at this stage. He promised effective steps against “whosoever is responsible for these dastardly acts.”

The Prime Minister and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who arrived in the afternoon, visited the blast sites in the city and the hospitals where the injured were admitted. Dr. Singh later reviewed the law and order situation with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and his Cabinet Ministers and senior government officials before returning to Delhi. Ms. Gandhi and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil were present during the review meeting.

The Cabinet decided to upgrade the police district in Guwahati city to a Police Commissionerate.

Meanwhile, the death toll has gone up to 81. Of these, 46 were killed in the blasts in the city.

The Prime Minister assured the State of all help and support and expressed his resolve to fight terror and ensure security to the people.