New Delhi, Oct 02: Cutting across party lines, leaders, including several Chief Ministers, today condemned the attempt by naxalites on the life of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at Tirupati and said it was aimed at spreading terror and creating chaos in the country. Expressing "shock" and "distress" over the attempt on Naidu's life, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said, "Such cowardly acts of violence were bids to spread terror in the public mind. The attack must be condemned in the strongest terms and such heinous acts of terrorism must be put down with an iron hand."
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee, in a letter faxed to Naidu, said, "I am deeply shocked to learn of the attempt on your life. No language is adequate to condemn this heinous act." Minister of State for Defence O Rajagopal said it was the handiwork of extremist elements who were out to create chaos in the country with the help of foreign forces. It was evident from the use of sophisticated equipment that extremists had the support of foreign forces.
"It only highlights the great danger the country is facing from the extremist elements, who are out to create trouble," he told reporters Coimbatore. Asserting that the government was determined to put an end to such extremist activities, Rajagopal said terrorist activities were not confined only to Jammu and Kashmir. Yesterday's attempt to assassinate Naidu was an indication that extremists were trying to spread their tentacles in various parts of the country, he said.
Bureau Report