Terrorists sponsored by Pakistan had instructions to attack religious places in India to incite communal violence, Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani said here today.Speaking at the 18th Raising Day celebrations of the National Security Guards (NSG), Advani said the government had ‘‘information in general that terrorists have been asked to target such places in the country which could incite communal riots, and the terrorists have decided to do that’’.Advani called the world to recognise Pakistan’s ISI wing as a part of the terrorist-triumvirate along with the Al Qaeda and Taliban. While the ISI had tried to disrupt the polling process in J-K, he said, the ‘‘decent polls’’ in the state had won worldwide respect. ‘‘While we cannot ensure 90 per cent polling like Gen (Pervez) Musharraf can in Pakistan, we have had a very decent poll process and it has improved India’s image abroad,’’ he said.The attack on Akshardham was a move to attack soft targets by terrorists and there could be a lot of soft targets ‘‘like bus stops, where women and children can be killed’’, Advani said.Advani announced a 25 per cent hike in emoluments for NSG personnel and promised that the needs of additional manpower and modern weapons will be looked into. He hoped the Urban Development Ministry will favourably view the NSG’s proposal for additional 40 acres next to its Samalkha base to save reaction teams of groups that have to be rushed from its headquarters in Manesar. He also handed over a Rs 10 lakh cheque from Gujarat government to the widow of Subedar Suresh Chand Yadav, who was killed in Akshardham.
