“I cannot describe them as sporadic incidents. Maybe I have a suspicious mind but I find a design in these attacks to damage the Indian economy,” the minister said.

He said while the Delhi attack targeted our national capital, the Jaipur one targeted our national pride (Jaipur attracts tourists from all cross the country), the one at Bangalore targeted a hub of science research and education, the one in Ahmedabad the textile centre of India and the one in Mumbai our financial capital.

These targets indicate a design of our enemy, which is jealous of our growth and wants to target the process of economic development, said Mukherjee. “Not just as a minister or a politician, but as an individual, I have tried to find out the reason for the senseless violence. I have come to the conclusion there is no reason for the violence,” Mukherjee said.

“After 9/11, some Western philosophers have used the term ‘Islamic Terrorism’. I am very disturbed at it,” said the minister, adding he had read the English version of the Holy Quran and found that Islam is a religion that talks about love, compassion and universal brotherhood.