Reacting to the serial bomb blasts in Ahmedabad [Images], Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray on Tuesday said the attack was a challenge thrown by Muslim fanaticism at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi [Images].

Modi should take up the gauntlet and crush Islamic terrorism with an iron hand and not just ask the army to do a flag-march, Thackeray said in an editorial in the party newspaper Saamna.

The editorial said, "Pakistan always had prior information about any terror attack on the Indian soil. Wiping out Pakistan from the world map is the only remedy to annihilate the predator in the form of Islamic terrorism."

To qualify as India's genuine friend in the comity of nations, America has to do this, Thackeray commented.

He said the Gujarati people were at present in the grip of fear following the cruelty shown by the attackers who did not even spare hospitals.

"This kind of barbarism is characteristic of only Moghul attackers," the Sena chief said in the editorial.

Referring to the reported connection of the blasts with vehicles traced to Navi Mumbai, Thackeray said the metropolis is "infested with Bangladeshi Muslims" and the Inter Services Intelligence has a foothold even in north Maharashtra, Marathwada and Thane.

"Islamic fundamentalists are operating in India by conniving with the fanatic Indian Muslims and Hindus will be digging their own grave if they remain defensive in the face of these assaults aimed at dividing the country and insulting its Constitution," Thackeray said.

He also warned Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister R R Patil who is also in-charge of home portfolio against any complacency in matters concerning the security of Mumbai, the financial capital of India.

"The AK-56 with you (police) are not meant to be showpieces. Train them on terrorists to teach them a permanent lesson," Thackeray said.