New Delhi: Voicing serious concern over the terrorist attack in Jammu, President A P J Abdul Kalam on November 24 night telephoned Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to get a brief on the situation there, even as political parties expressed outrage at the "barbaric" strike on the 150-year old Raghunath Temple.

"It is a matter of serious concern that this was the second time in recent times that a place of worship was being attacked by terrorists," Kalam said in a statement, making an obvious reference to the terrorist attack on Akashardham temple in Gujarat in September.

In a statement issued after his talk with Vajpayee, the President expressed confidence that the security forces "will be able to contain the damage and protect human life".

Political party leaders condemned the attack with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saying that the strike "is a natural fallout of the soft corner of the Congress- People's Democratic Party (PDP) government in Jammu and Kashmir towards terrorists and secessionists".

BJP general secretary and spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, "Their (terrorists') morale has boosted up as a result of the state government's appeasement policy."

Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed deep shock and anguish over the "barbaric attack" and sent her heartfelt condolences to the unfortunate victims.

Vajpayee and his Deputy L K Advani are "closely monitoring" the situation in Jammu, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan said after a high-level meeting presided by the Prime Minister.

Advani will make a statement on the terrorist strike in both Houses of Parliament on November 25, Mahajan said.

Terming the attack as "totally condemnable", Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPM) leader and politbureau member Prakash Karat, however, said the strike was part of retaliatory action against happenings in Gujarat.

While the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) described the attack as a "challenge" to the nation, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) blamed the Jammu and Kashmir government's "policy" towards terrorists for the strike.

PTI