Advani, PM stay in touch, BJP talks unity

While Advani was in touch with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh through the night — the two spoke no less than five times — the two also decided to fly together to the city. However, later Advani left for Mumbai with Jaswant Singh in the evening and the PM left separately.

While “appreciating” the BJP’s “measured response”, Congress sources expressed “disappointment that Advani didn’t accompany the PM”. While BJP sources claimed that Advani altered his plans after a call from Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil indicating a change in the PM’s schedule, the Congress camp said there was “no ambiguity whatsoever” in the PM’s plans.

Asked about the shift in the party’s response, a senior BJP leader said: “Today is definitely not the day to pick holes in the Government’s approach.”

While the BJP described the attacks as an “audacious challenge to India’s nation-state” and “resolved to break the back of India’s enemies”, the RSS too expressed similar sentiments. “At this hour of crisis I extend wholehearted support to the Government and agencies and call upon the entire nation to rise as one man and destroy the nefarious designs of the terrorists. I urge the Swayamsevaks to continue their efforts to rescue hundreds injured or otherwise affected by this terror attack,” said RSS chief K S Sudarshan.