NEW DELHI: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee have condemned the Malegaon blasts, in which innocent civilians were killed.

In a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Friday, Mr. Kalam conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims. While condemning the attack, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appealed for peace and communal harmony, and urged all citizens to remain calm.

In a message from Abuja, Nigeria, where he is attending the 52nd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee expressed shock and sorrow at the loss of a number of innocent lives in the blasts.

Describing the blasts as an attempt to disturb peace and communal harmony, Mr. Patil reiterated the Government's resolve to firmly deal with those involved in such inhuman acts. He also appealed to the people to maintain peace.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed condolences over the loss of innocent lives and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. Condemning the incident, she said it was a cowardly act; such incidents strengthened the resolve to fight terrorists and divisive forces.

Effective measures sought

The Communist Party of India said the situation demanded more coordinated and effective measures against terrorists as the blasts took place despite warnings.

"The terrorists cannot succeed in weakening India through such cowardly attacks targeting innocent people. The people of Maharashtra will show the same resilience of Mumbai in resisting the terrorists, and maintaining unity and harmony," its central secretariat said in a statement here.

Janata Dal (Secular) general secretary Danish Ali said terrorists had no religion or faith.

He demanded a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh for the families of those killed and a time-bound judicial inquiry by a Supreme Court judge.

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