Left cancel week-long stir, slam terror attacks

Denouncing the terror attacks in Srinagar and Mumbai, CPI and CPI(M) said the blasts have been perpetrated by "forces inimical to the country.

Left parties on Wednesday cancelled the first phase of their week-long nationwide stir against price hike in view of the serial blasts in Mumbai and asked the UPA government to take all steps to eliminate terror networks.

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Condemning Tuesday's terror attack on the suburban rail network in the bustling western metropolis, they said the "terrorist aim of disrupting peace and communal harmony must be foiled" and demanded a thorough probe into the incident.

The parties, which provide crucial outside support to the Congress-led UPA coalition, cancelled the first part of their stir scheduled to begin on Thursday and decided to hold it from July 17 to 19 as a mark of support to the people of Mumbai.

Denouncing the terror attacks in Srinagar and Mumbai, CPI and CPI(M) said the blasts have been perpetrated by "forces inimical to the country and the people with a design to disrupt normal life and create social tensions."

"The Maharashtra government and Central agencies must spare no effort to track down the perpetrators of this horrendous crime and take steps to eliminate the network sustaining the terrorist activities," CPI(M) Politburo said in a statement in New Delhi.

It also asked the state and the central government to assist those affected by bomb blasts.

Expressing shock over the rush-hour attacks, CPI Central Secretariat demanded that a thorough probe be conducted into the blasts and "lapses" on the part of intelligence agencies.

"Life and security of people cannot be held to ransom by organised fanatic terrorists...Their inhuman attack cannot deter the country," it said in a statement.