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Nationwide BJP protests today
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 5
Terming the terrorist attack on the makeshift temple in Ayodhya as an “attack on Hindu faith”, BJP today demanded the resignations of the Union and Uttar Pradesh Home Ministers for the “laxity” which allowed militants to storm the Ram Janmabhoomi site.

The main Opposition party also announced a nationwide protest and a Bandh in Uttar Pradesh tomorrow against the attack.

While two former Uttar Pradesh Chief Ministers Raj Nath Singh and Kalyan Singh have been deputed by the party to spearhead the party’s agitational programme in Uttar Pradesh, party president L.K. Advani and Vice-President M.A. Naqvi are likely to visit Ayodhya tomorrow for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

Addressing a Press conference here after an emergency meeting of the BJP office-bearers, senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Jaswant Singh criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying his officials were making statements on his behalf although he should do so himself.

“The incident was not just an attack on a site, but on the Hindu faith itself,” the former Union Minister said.

Launching a scathing attack on the Centre, he said the attack could take place only because of the “laxity” in security and because “the UPA Government has in the last one year created a mindset that anything related to the Hindu faith can be ignored.

Lashkar hand seen in attack
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, JULY 5
Even as the government remained tight-lipped on the identity of the group behind the terrorist attack at Ram Temple in Ayodhya, sources in the security agencies said Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba could be behind the incident.

“There has been intelligence inputs at regular intervals about the possible attack by LeT militants in temples and other places of worship to create communal tension,” sources said. The LeT’s plans to target Ayodhya came to the fore when terrorists assigned the task were killed in an encounter with the Delhi Police in Tughlakhabad in South Delhi in November 2002.

Modi announces reward for cops

Ahmedabad, July 5
Chief Minister Narendra Modi today announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for jawans of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) who fended off an attack by six heavily armed terrorists trying to barge into the makeshift Ram Temple at Ayodhya, official sources said.

Terrorists hurled grenades and fired indiscriminately but the jawans, some of whom were injured in the process, fought on and liquidated all the six.

The state has already been put on a high alert following the shootout and security has been tightened at all temples, including those at Akshardham and Somnath, sources said. — PTI