Wednesday, July 12 2006 18:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Left Front plans to hold silent processions and meetings all over the country to condemn the Mumbai train bombings and in the process curtail its anti-price agitation to just two days as against planned weeklong stir.

A joint statement by the four-party Left Front said all state units had been told to protest Tuesday's blasts, which killed at least 180 people, and express the resolve to maintain communal harmony and the unity of the people.

"The terrorists' aim of disrupting peace and communal harmony must be foiled," the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Front, which supports Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's coalition government from outside, said.

The Left Front has cancelled the first part of its weeklong protests, which was scheduled to begin Thursday and go on for a week to protest the government's inaction in containing the prices of essential commodities.

"The programme against price rise will now be held from July 17 to 19," the statement said.

In another statement, the CPI-M asked government agencies and the Maharashtra government to spare no efforts to track down the perpetrators of this horrendous crime and take steps to eliminate the network sustaining the terrorist activities.

Pointing out that the Mumbai blasts followed a series of explosions in Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar, the party said, "The attacks underlined the similar aim of disrupting normal life and restoration of peace."

"These attacks have been perpetrated by forces inimical to the country and the people with a design to disrupt normal life and create social tensions," the party politburo said in a statement.

"It is imperative that this heinous aim is foiled. This requires the unity and determination of all sections of the people," he said.

Expressing solidarity with the people of Mumbai and deep sympathy with the families of the victims, the communists asked the central and state authorities to take prompt and necessary steps to assist those affected by the bomb blasts.