Govt adopting "casual" approach to terror acts: BJP

BJP on today condemned the blasts in Varanasi and accused the Home Ministry of adopting a "casual" approach towards terror acts.

BJP on Tuesday condemned the blasts in Varanasi and accused the Home Ministry of adopting a "casual" approach towards terror acts.

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"He (P Chidambaram) is the most casual and confused home minister of the country. For quite sometime, every two months serious terrorist acts are taking place and the Home Minister always adopts a casual approach," BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters.

He said even on December 6, which marks the anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition, a routine advisory was sent from the Home Ministry.

"This time also, no specific advisory was sent to the state for December 6. And if the home ministry had sent a specific advisory, then what happened today in Varanasi is a failure of the state," Naqvi alleged.

Another senior BJP leader and MP from Varanasi Murli Manohar Joshi charged the incident shows the police and security in the city had become lax and that terrorist outfits have again become active in the state.

"Terrorist outfits have once again become active in Uttar Pradesh and I have discussed this with the district magistrate and commissioner (of Varanasi) that they should take immediate steps and strengthen the security at the ghats," Joshi said.

He claimed the timing of the blasts seems to have been chosen by the culprits with the intention to inflict maximum damage as a large number of foreigners visit the city during these months and in the evenings during Ganga aarti the crowd is "quite significant".

"It appears the police had also become lax and security was, I must say, out of gear. And this is the situation in the whole state where security arrangements are not being looked into," he said.

Joshi, however, ruled out that the blast timing had anything to do with Babri Masjid demolition anniversary. "No, it was not the purpose. It took place when the aarti was going on. It was the motive...," he said.