New Delhi, July 8, 2013: Religious heads and peace activists on Sunday condemned the blasts in Bodhgaya.

In a statement issued here the activists condemned the “heinous terror attack” on a place of worship that is of great spiritual and historical significance.

“Speculation has already started that this attack could be in retaliation for the attacks on Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. We urge that all such speculations should be discouraged till such time as proper investigations are conducted and the identity of culprits is firmly established as this could be used to target the Muslim community in India, to gain political polarisation before the forthcoming general elections, and also to unleash a new wave of violence against the Muslims in Myanmar who are already suffering grave violence and untold sufferings for years and lakhs had to flee Myanmar to save their lives over the past years,” the statement reads.

Among the signatories are film-maker Mahesh Bhatt, Swami Agnivesh, Dr. Mazher Hussain, COVA (Confederation of Voluntary Associations), Dr. D. Yadiah, Boudhik Pramukh, All India Samata Sainik Dal, Dr. Binayak Sen of the PUCL, Kamla Bhasin, Maulana Syed Shah Hamid Hussain Shutari of the All India Sunni Ulema Board, Fr. Dominic Emmanuel of Delhi Catholic Church and several others.

Source: The Hindu, DT. July 8, 2013.