Nitish Kumar rules out security lapses leading to serial blasts

PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ruled out any security lapses in the arrangements for the BJP rally here and said the serial blasts were an attempt to disturb the law and order situation in the state.

There were no security lapses as all the necessary measures had been taken for the BJP rally, Kumar told reporters here.

Five people were killed and 66 injured in six serial blasts near the venue of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's rally in the state capital today.

Defending the arrangements, Kumar said "There were no intelligence inputs either from the Centre or from the state. Whatever was possible to do for this kind of a programme, the administration had done.

"I would like to assure BJP that there were no shortcomings in the arrangements," he added.

But, despite the arrangements, blasts had taken place, which was matter of great concern for the state, Kumar said.

"It was a lesson for us as, despite the bandobast, this happened. It is a matter of great concern for all of us and a challenge for the entire state," he said.

The serial blasts were an attempt to threaten the law and order situation in the state and it cannot be a coincidence that they occurred on the day of the rally, Kumar averred.

"Whatever happened is not the tradition of Bihar. An attempt was made to disrupt the amity of the state and disturb the law and order situation. (The blasts occurred before) the BJP rally and it seems like a deliberate attempt," he said.

Appealing for peace, Kumar said, "Some elements are trying to create trouble. We have to face (them) unitedly."