PTI - Tuesday, 9-30 pm
 
New Delhi: Condemning the explosions in Varanasi in which at least four persons were killed and several injured, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday appealed to the people to maintain calm.

"The Prime Minister has appealed for maintaining peace and calm. He is constantly monitoring the situation. He has condemned the blasts " his media adviser Sanjaya Baru said.

Red alert in UP after blasts, CM announces ex-gratia

PTI

Lucknow: A red alert has been sounded in Uttar Pradesh following blasts in Varanasi while Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav has announced ex-gratia relief for the victims and appealed to the people to maintain peace and order.
In a statement issued here, Yadav condemned the incidents and appealed to the people exercise restraint and said the culprits will not not be spared. "Stern action will be initiated against all those found involved in the incident," he said.

Yadav announced an ex gratia of Rs five lakh to those killed in the blasts, Rs one lakh to those seriously injured and Rs. 50,000 to pople with minor injuries.

A red alert has been sounded throughout Uttar Pradesh in view of Varanasi incidents, an official release said.

Patrolling has been intensified throughout the state specially in sensitive areas including those in the state capital where communal clashes had taken place on friday last.

Varanasi blasts echo: Nation on alert

PTI

New Delhi: The Centre has alerted all states to be vigilant in the wake of multiple blasts in Varanasi to ensure that no untoward incidents take place, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said on Tuesday evening.

Patil told reporters after a meeting with officials that he has spoken to Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav on the situation in the state and the Union home secretary was in continuous touch with the state chief secretary.

He said the Uttar Pradesh government has been asked to take steps to see that the situation did not go out of control.

Similarly, other states have been asked to be vigilant so that no untoward incidents take place, he added.

Patil refused to give any figures about the death toll in the two blasts, saying various figures were flowing in.

He said he would be meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi and was considering a visit to Varanasi tomorrow.

Condemning the explosions, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appealed to the people to maintain calm.

'The prime minister has appealed for maintaining peace and calm. He is constantly monitoring the situation. He has condemned the blasts," his media adviser Sanjaya Baru said.

Spiritual guru and founder of the Art of Living Foundation Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Sri Dayanand Saraswati, Sri Chidanand Muni and other saints from Rishikesh in Uttaranchal strongly condemned the Varanasi blasts and appealed to the people to remain calm.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said he is dismayed at the way political parties are playing with the security of people in India. "Hindus today do not feel safe anymore after the Delhi Diwali blasts. Now it is the Varanasi blasts," he said.