AHMEDABAD: A time-device explosive material buried under the ground was found 100 meters away from the place where Sadhvi Rithambhara was to address a public meeting June 9 as part of the election campaign for the BJP.

However all her programs in Gujarat were cancelled because of her ill-health?

Immediately after the recovery of the explosive material the entire area was cordoned off and the senior officials of the forensic laboratory were summoned to the spot. :

The director-general of police Mr B.S.Nirula when contacted confirmed that the time device explosive material was found and said that even if it had exploded it could not have caused any casualty or damage to the building as it was some distance from the place of meetings or any buildings. However thorough investigations will be carried out to find out as to how the time-device explosive material got there in the first place he said.

Meanwhile several BJP and VHP leaders have condemned the incident. Ina statement the leaders of the opposition Mr Keshubhai Patel described the incident as a pre-planned attempt on the life of Sadhvi Rithambhara. Mr Patel has demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.

Dr. Pravinbhai Togadia General Secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad Gujarat said that this was the work of terrorism nurtured by the politicians Political elements who were frustrated over the fear of their defeat in the Lok Sabha elections were behind the incident. The state government must order a judicial inquiry into the incident Dr Togadia said. Several other religious and political leaders have also condemned the incident.

Article extracted from this publication >> June 14, 1991