RS condemns Mahabodhi temple blast, Chhattisgarh Naxal attack

Rajya Sabha today condemned the serial bomb blasts at Mahabodhi temple in Gaya district of Bihar and the Maoists attack on a convoy of Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh that led former Union minister V C Shukla and senior party leader Mahendra Karma dead.
Chairman Hamid Ansari described the July 7 terrorist attack on Mahabodhi temple as "senseless act of violence" and said the attack on a world heritage site and holiest seat for Buddhists was "a cause of anguish and deep concern to all."
He mentioned of the May 26 Maoist ambush on a convoy of Congress leaders in a dense forest in Chhattisgarh's Jagdalpur district that left 27 persons dead including senior party leader Karma and Shukla.

Ansari also made a reference to the killing of six persons including the Superintendent of Police of Pakur district, Amarjit Balihar, in a Maoists attack in Jharkhand on July 2.
Loss of so many innocent lives was "indeed tragic and unfortunate", he said, adding such "dastardly attacks and acts of violence must be condemned in strongest term."
Mentioning of death of 23 children due to food poisoning after consuming midday meal at a school in Bihar, Ansari said the loss was "painful and sad".

The Chairman also made a reference to flash floods and landslides in Uttarakhand killing 580 persons and injuring 4,473 persons while 5,526 persons were still missing.

Floods in several parts of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh damaged infrastructure, he noted, adding, "loss of so many precious lives in these natural disasters is unfortunate and sad."
The House also congratulated recent sporting feats including Indian cricket team winning the ICC Champions Trophy.