Sir — The brutal and cowardly terror attack on Buddhist holy site of Bodh Gaya must be condemned in the strongest words, no matter which religion, community or social class the perpetrators belong to. These attacks are a matter of grave concern and completely unjustifiable as they violate all norms of a civil society. All religions propagate mercy and peace, and terrorism and those indulging in it contradict the very basis of those teachings.
Islam has advised mercy for all and regards all people as members of the Almighty's family. It calls for peace and justice and mercy to all mankind, and under no circumstance does it legitimise strife, killing or maiming. Hence, those who indulge in such criminal acts in the name of religion are doing great injustice and cannot claim to belong to any faith. The Government should, with an open mind, take serious note of these continued terror strikes in the country and ensure that the patrons of such ghastly acts are held accountable and punished severely.