Venkaiah Naidu pitches for political unity to combat terror

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today pitched for political unity to combat terrorism in the backdrop of the Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train blast in Madhya Pradesh.

"In these times we have to stay united and fight such forces, irrespective of who is at the centre of power," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.

The Urban Development Minister was responding to questions on the encounter by Uttar Pradesh Police in Lucknow yesterday to nab the suspects linked with the train blast.

Ten people were injured, three of them seriously, in an IED blast on a passenger train near Jabdi station in Madhya Pradesh yesterday, in what is suspected to be a terror attack. The National Investigation Agency has initiated its probe into the incident.

Naidu said nobody should encourage cross-border terrorism and separatist forces.

In an apparent reference to Pakistan, he said, "Such tricks are being used by our neighbours and also other terrorist organisations across the globe to disturb a country's stability and peace.