NEW DELHI : Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani accused the Congress of indulging in ``competitive minority appeasement.'' This was ``good neither for the country nor for the community.''

``A little while ago I got the news of blasts in Varanasi. Then I realised that my apprehensions are correct in the light of recent developments.

``This is my belief that if political parties are encouraging minorityism and indulge in competition in this regard, particularly the ruling party, its results would be beneficial neither for the country nor for the community,'' Mr. Advani told reporters.

The former BJP chief said he had told Pakistani leadership during his visit to Pakistan last year and to U.S. President George Bush, when he visited India a few days ago, that it was not correct to say that terrorism has been eradicated in the country.

The former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has condemned the blasts and appealed to people to maintain peace.

Shocking: RSS

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has termed as ``shocking and disturbing'' the bomb blasts and accused both the Central and State Governments of being ``incapable'' to deal with the menace of terrorism.

``It is a shocking and disturbing incident. Hindu auspicious occasions and sacred places such as Ayodhya and Varanasi have of late been becoming targets of terrorists.

``Both the Central and Uttar Pradesh Governments have proved to be totally incapable of containing the menace of terrorism, which is spreading like a wildfire all over the country,'' RSS national executive member Ram Madhav told PTI over phone from Hyderabad.

Call for U.P. bandh

The BJP and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad gave separate calls for an Uttar Pradesh bandh on Thursday.

``The BJP will observe a total bandh in the State tomorrow. We appeal to the people to peacefully register their protest against the terrorist attacks,'' party general secretary Vinay Katiyar told PTI over phone from Nayagarh in Orissa.

VHP general secretary Praveen Togadia gave a similar call from Valsad in Gujarat.

Strengthen securtity: IUML

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) condemned the blasts and asked the Government to strengthen security and bring the culprits to book.

IUML president G.M. Banatwala said in a statement that the ``political designs'' behind the blasts and other recent incidents of violence in Uttar Pradesh ``must be defeated.''

``We extend our heart-felt condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives,'' he said.

The Jamiat-Ulama-i-Hind, expressing shock over the blasts, said such violence should be condemned in one voice by the whole nation.

"We express our grief and condole the death of such large number of innocent people. Any violence, especially in a place of worship, is most condemnable," said Jamiat general secretary Mahmood A. Madani.

Yechury's appeal

UNI reports from Kochi:

CPI (M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury condemned the blasts and appealed to the Centre to provide necessary help to the Uttar Pradesh Government to deal with the situation.

Talking to mediapersons, he said the country had been witnessing similar disturbances in the recent past and described ``these as attempts of fundamentalist forces to communalise the situation in the country.''

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