Church condemns Jaipur blasts that claimed over 80 lives

Church leaders in the country have condemned a series of bomb blasts that claimed over 80 lives in a popular tourist destination of the city of Jaipur in North India.

Calling it a "senseless act of violence," Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, president of the CBCI pledged, "Our sympathies and our prayers are with the victims, their families who lost their loved ones in this senseless violence."

The cardinal promised that the churches and Christian organisations in the city of Jaipur would assist the injured, rendering all services to ensure the stability of peace and normalcy.

"We also intercede for the people who planned and carried out these series of explosions which caused so much destruction to life and property . . . may the Light of Truth illumine the dark evil of their deeds," Asianews quoted him saying.

Global Council of Indian Christians, a Bangalore based advocacy group, has also come forward for the support of the injured. Condemning the terrorist act, GCIC urged Christian organisations to assist the injured and to “pray for peace in the city.”

Officials said that the death toll was expected to rise after the country’s deadliest terror attack in two years, has sent shivers among the people and the neighboring states.

More than 200 were injured in the six explosions that took place in quick succession at 7.20pm local time.

Cities across India, including Delhi and Bombay, have been placed on alert. As many as four other bombs were planted in Jaipur, but failed to explode, reports said.

Although no one claimed responsibility for the explosion, suspicion has fallen on the banned Harkat–ul–Jehadi Islamia, an Islamic group operating from Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the international community has condemned the incident and pledged support to India in its fight to stamp out terrorism.

“The United States stands with the government and people of India in their ongoing fight to eliminate the scourge of terrorism, and to ensure an open, democratic, peaceful, and prosperous society," US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

The Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has also reacted strongly, condemning the Jaipur blasts.

She said that a strong law like POTA should be brought to contain the terror in the country that has spread everywhere and is destroying social harmony.

''We need a strong law like that in Gujarat to deal with this menace which has vitiated the atmosphere in the country and claimed innocent lives,'' she said, quoted PTI.

Jaipur is the capital of the western desert state of Rajasthan and is one of India's premier tourist spots, known for its pink sandstone palaces.

In the month of March, this year, Rajasthan became the sixth state to pass an anti–conversion law, to scrutinize Christian activities and to strictly punish “those involved in forceful conversion.”