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Don't test patience of Hindus: VHP

"I appeal to Muslim brethren to condemn the attack and ask them not to put Hindus' patience to test. Hindus are maintaining restraint, but if such incidents do not stop, there can be a counter reaction, which may be uncontrollable," VHP international vice-president Acharya Giriraj Kishore said.

Asked to elaborate, he said, "Do I have to say that for every action there is a reaction? It would be very difficult for the Hindus to maintain patience at such a heavy price."

After visiting the Sola civil hospital in Ahmedabad, where 54 out of the 58 bodies of the train attack victims were brought, he said that 'Hindus should maintain calm and keep patience'.

The VHP leader alleged that the attack was pre-planned and took place with the connivance of the assistant station master of Godhra and personnel of the government railway police who chose to be silent spectators.

He demanded an inquiry by the government into their role in the incident.

Kishore also pointed out that said that Godhra, a Muslim-dominated area, was a perpetual trouble spot adding that in 1992, karsevaks proceeding to Ayodhya had been attacked.

He demanded strict action against those responsible for Wednesday's attack and that the government take steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

He ruled out any change in the VHP's Ram mandir programme following the incident.

"There is no change in our March 12 deadline. 'Ram sevaks' would continue to go to Ayodhya. Let the government arrest them," he said.

Kishore said that he would participate in a funeral procession of 'martyrs' at Khokra in east Ahmedabad later in the day and also try to meet Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

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