India: We will fight terror at all costs

NEW DELHI, May 15 (UPI) -- A top Indian official said the country will thwart the designs of terrorists who are out to disturb communal harmony in the country.

Interior Minister Shivraj Patil Thursday said India will fight terror at all costs and foil the designs of terrorists who want to destroy peace and communal harmony in the country, which is a patchwork of ethnicities and religions.

"The government will boldly thwart the ulterior motives of militants," said Patil, who paid a bedside visit to some of those injured in Tuesday's bomb explosions in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan state. The chairwoman of the ruling United Progressive Alliance, Sonia Gandhi, also accompanied him.

Patil assured Rajasthanis, "The central government will give all possible assistance and help to the state to meet any exigency on the terror front."

Patil also visited the sites of the explosions in the old city. He said whatever action is required, the center would do it immediately to enable the state government to face the challenge.

The minister thanked the people of Jaipur for maintaining peace and harmony in the aftermath of the explosions that killed 64 people.

He stayed for about 30 minutes in the trauma and other wards of the Sawai Man Singh hospital amid tight security arrangements and asked Rajasthan Health Minister Narpat Singh Rajvi about the conditions of victims.