Ethnic violence wherever a blot on the country: Cong

At the same time, party spokesman Rashid Alvi appealed to all concerned not to do politics over the matter.

"Such incidents wherever they happen are a blot on the country", said Alvi when asked about Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's remarks dubbing the incidents as "blot".

Responding to questions by reporters on the failure of the state government, Alvi said, "It is not the time to point accusing fingers and speak about lacunae but to ensure peace and communal harmony."

He sidestepped questions on Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's claims that the state did not get immediate help from the security forces.

Replying to a question, he said the problem of illegal immigrants is not new to Assam and the sensitive border state was tackling it for several years.

In reply to a query on the growing number of deaths of pilgrims during the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, he said that it was also an unfortunate matter.