Friday, April 22 2005 20:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ahmedabad: The attack on Union Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav was a "natural response" of relatives of the victims of the train accident involving the Sabarmati Express near Samalaya, senior VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) leader Acharya Giriraj Kishore today (Apr 22, 2005) said.

"The attack on Laloo in the hospital was carried out by enraged relatives of the victims," he told reporters in Ahmedabad.

"It is but a natural response for people to react in this manner after a major accident wherein several people have lost their lives," he said, adding the passenger's relatives were present at the hospital and it was they who had attacked Laloo.

Kishore however did not deny the presence of VHP and Bajrang Dal workers at the SSG hospital in Vadodara or at the accident site.

"About 100 VHP and Bajrang Dal workers had rushed to the accident site yesterday and had engaged in relief operations. They had provided the accident victims with refreshments," Kishore said while alleging that the presence of saffron workers at the accident site was not liked by the Railway Minister.

At least 17 people, including seven women, were killed and over 125 injured when Ahmedabad-bound Sabarmati Express from Varanasi rammed into a stationary goods train at Samalaya, about 30 kms from Vadodara, early yesterday.