RIYADH/DAMMAM/JEDDAH, 14 December — Saudi Arabia’s sizable Indian expat community expressed their shock and anger over the attack on the Indian parliament yesterday. They also expressed their dismay over the slack security around the government building.
They termed the gunmen’s entry into the parliament complex with grenades and explosives and storming it for more than 30 minutes as "shameful" for the security agencies. The community voiced its unanimous view that the attack on the symbol of national democracy was an attack on India — the world’s largest democracy —and its sovereignty.
They unequivocally condemned the attack and called for national unity to counter the menace of terrorism. Some of them wanted Home Minister L.K. Advani to be held responsible for the building’s slack security, which had resulted in many casualties. Interestingly, members of the Pakistani community felt that the latest attack could be used as a ploy to wage a war against the so-called terrorist hideouts in their country.
Muzaffar Rizvi, a medical supplies firm executive in Alkhobar: "The government should deal firmly with those responsible for the attack and those who supported and perpetrated it. Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the pattern shows it was the work of one of the Kashmiri groups."
Daniel Christopher, a transport company executive in Dammam: "It’s a cowardly act to undermine democracy in the country. All political parties must unite to counter such nefarious designs."
Vijay Bhaskar, a consultant engineer in Dammam: "The attack shows our security gap in one of the best guarded places in the country." Rajiv Malhotra, a computer engineer in Alkhobar: "The government must act swiftly against all terrorist activities in the country. The war against terrorism should not be directed against any social or religious group as terrorists do not have any religion." Safdar Pervez, a Riyadh sales executive: "What has happened is shameful for Indian security agencies. If gunmen could enter the parliament complex with a huge cache of arms including automatic weapons, grenades and explosives, no citizen can feel safe in India. I fear more attacks of a similar nature could occur if such security lapses continue."
Syed Massoud, vice president of a Riyadh company: "Such terrorist attacks can create chaos in India — a country of more than a billion people. Security at all key installations across the country must be beefed up"
Manzar Khan, a Riyadh banker: "The attack will definitely put fear in the people all over the country. The attack on the parliament building was similar to the terror attacks on the US on Sept. 11. It’s high time for a consensus among all shades of opinion in the country’s fight against terrorism."
Khaja Quadeer Anwar, Jeddah-based CEO & director of Indian Doctors, Engineers and Architects Society: "What the terrorists want to convey to the world by killing innocent people is not understandable. Islam stands for peaceful solutions of all disputes, grievances and problems, and perpetrators of such attacks must bear this in mind."
Muhammad Moin Khan, an accountant in a Jeddah firm: "The dastardly act is an attack on democracy. All political parties should unite and jointly fight the menace of terrorism, which the country has been facing for quite some time."
Zahir Ahmed, a Jeddah-based architect: "The daring suicide attack on the parliament exposes the so-called security in the country. The entire population must now wake up to fight all manifestations of terrorism wherever it exists."
