Leaders appeal for communal harmony

President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday joined leaders cutting across the political spectrum in condemning the blasts in Maharashtra's Malegaon saying these were aimed at fomenting communal tension and asked the people to remain calm.

In a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Kalam conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased and his prayers for the early recovery of those who have been injured in the blasts.

Thirty-seven people have been killed in the blasts. 

Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee also condemned the blasts and asked people to maintain peace and harmony.

"[Sonia] Gandhi has expressed deep shock and anguish over the dastardly incident. She has described it as an act of cowardice and asked people to maintain peace, patience and harmony," party spokesman Satyavrata Chaturvedi told reporters.

He said such incidents would further strengthen the party's resolve to confront terrorism.

The Lok Sabha speaker also expressed shock and sorrow over the loss of innocent lives in the explosions.

In a message sent form Abuja, Nigeria, where he is attending the 52nd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, Chatterjee conveyed his deep sympathies to the members of the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

The Bharatiya Janata Party also condemned the incident and blamed the attack on what it called the ruling United Progressive soft policies towards terrorism.

"We condemn the attack and feel that it is high time the government took immediate review of the internal security. Such attacks are a result of the government's soft approach towards terrorism," senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

Janata Dal-Secular, which also extends outside support to the UPA, said the government should be more alert on intelligence inputs. Party spokesman Danish Ali demanded Rs 5,00,000 compensation to the next of kin of the deceased.

Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said "checks" have to be imposed on Pakistan.

"Holding or not holding talks does not matter until steps are taken to put checks on Pakistan," Vajpayee told a public rally in New Delhi.

Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav called for bringing the perpetrators to quick justice.