India on High Alert; People Urged to Remain Calm

New Delhi, Sept. 25 2002 (INS News) -- The nation was today put an a state of alert to deal with any any fallout of the attack on a famous temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarath as political and religious leaders appealed for calm and not to fall prey to rumours.

Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee urged the people not to provoked by the incident while Deputy Prime MInister L.K. Advani and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi made fervent please for peace as authorities beefed up security at important places of worship and vital installations.

Apparently in the backdrop of communal riots in Gujarat, religious leaders including the Muslim Personal Law Board appealed not to view the terrorist attack from a religious angle.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi appealed that people maintain peace and to have faith in the government and to extend cooperation in dealing with the situation.

-- Sam Asharaf - South Asia Correspondent in Trivandrum, India
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