Varanasi:
Barely 20 hours after a blast shattered the evening prayers on the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi, the UP government and the Centre are trading charges over whether the attack could have been prevented. A baby girl was killed and close to 25 people injured.
Home Minister P Chidambaram visited Varanasi on Wednesday and said that the UP government had been sent a specific advisory in February this year identifying Dashashwamedh Ghat as a possible terror target. The blast on Tuesday took place at Sheetla Ghat next to Dashashwamedh Ghat.
"We had cautioned all state governments that in the run up to 26/11 and 6/12 anniversaries, we can expect threats from terrorists," said Mr Chidambaram. He added, "I am not here to do a 'jugalbandi' to blame anyone but specific advisories were given.... It is for the government of UP to realise that it is first the responsibility of the state government to maintain law and order." (
Read: Varanasi blast: Chidambaram blames UP govt?)
Mr Chidambaram also stressed that "I think there is a lesson for the police. There is no question of relaxing the vigil on any day."
The UP government was quick to take offense. "There was no specific actionable input about terror strike in Varanasi," rebutted UP Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh. He said that given that the last advisory for Dashashwamedh Ghat was issued on February 25, "How much it is actionable in December is for anyone to decide."