We will not play into the enemy’s hands: Advani

In Gujarat, Advani met the State Governor and other top officials and later went to the temple complex.

Here in Male, Vajpayee called the attack a dastardly act, a reaction to the success of the electoral process in Kashmir. ‘‘They attempted to stall elections in Jammu and Kashmir but failed. They are now frustrated and are conducting retaliatory attacks’’, he told a gathering of NRIs at a civic reception hosted by High Commissioner SM Gavai.

The nation, he said, would tackle the terrorists with restraint and firmness, and the people should not get worked up.

He said that terrorism was on its last legs and has faced humiliating defeat in Afghanistan. ‘‘Where is the Taliban today? Where are the sponsors of terrorism in Kargil’’, he asked.

Vajpayee’s return has been timed to coincide with Advani’s return from Gandhinagar so that the Cabinet Committee on Security can get a detailed briefing before deciding on a future course of action.

There are two aspects the Government will be considering. One is the obvious domestic angle. Apart from establishing the forces behind today’s attack, the Centre will have to determine the steps it will need to take to ensure that communal violence does not flare up again in Gujarat or spread to other parts of the country.

It will also have to assess the possible impact of the incident on the prospects of holding a peaceful election in Gujarat in November-December as planned. The other is the international angle.

With Indo-Pak relations poised at a delicate turn after peaceful and surprisingly high polling in the second phase of elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the Government will have to consider carefully how far it wants to raise the ante against Islamabad.

Advani hinted at a Pakistani connection this evening when he blamed ‘‘enemies of the nation’’ for the attack. However, not having got a mandate from the CCS, he stopped short of naming any country or agency.

(With Arati R Jerath in New Delhi)