"It is an absolutely inhuman and horrible act committed to disturb the unity of India," Ahmed Patel, political secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi [Images], told rediff.com on Friday evening. While reacting to the blasts that went off outside a mosque in the textile town of Malegaon in Nashik on Friday afternoon, he appealed to the people to keep calm.
He also met many Muslim leaders to request them to issue appeals for peace and communal harmony.
When asked about the possible repercussions of the incident, where at least 30 Muslims were killed, Patel said, "The disruptive forces should understand that each and every act of their terror is strengthening India's unity and the people's resolve for a united India."
"I believe that after such attacks, we Indians are coming closer to fight back," he said. "The relations between Indians are getting more intimate and mature."
"I am aware that destructive forces are playing a dangerous game with the 100 crore people of India to divide our society but these terrorist organisations should very well understand that each and every Indian is committed to fail them."
Patel pointed out that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's [Images] apprehensions on Tuesday, which were made on the basis of the reports of intelligence agencies, about such possible terrorist attacks has been unfortunately proven correct.
"Obviously it is an act by organisations who want to divide India on communal lines," he said. "But I have full faith in the maturity of our people. In the greater interest of India all of us should make sure that peace prevails."