NEW DELHI: India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is blaming “external forces” for the terror attacks that have killed more than 100 people in the country’s financial capital.
In a nationally broadcast address yesterday, Singh said “the well-planned and well-orchestrated attacks, probably with external linkages, were intended to create a sense of panic, by choosing high profile targets and indiscriminately killing foreigners.”
Singh is vowing to take the “strongest possible measures” to ensure that they aren’t repeated.
Singh said New Delhi would “take up strongly” the use of neighbors’ territory to launch attacks on India. “The well-planned and well-orchestrated attacks, probably with external linkages, were intended to create a sense of terror by choosing high-profile targets,” Singh said in his address.
Indian governments have in the past blamed neighboring Pakistan or sometimes Bangladesh for supporting or harboring militant groups for these attacks. “It is evident that the group that carried these attacks, based outside the country, had come with single-minded determination to create havoc in the commercial capital of the country,” Singh said.
Earlier, Singh called an emergency meeting of Cabinet to take stock of the situation in Mumbai. During the meeting, Home Minister Shivraj Patil briefed the Cabinet. Patil, accompanied by National Security Guards (NSG) Director General J.K. Dutt, returned to Delhi yesterday morning after a short visit to Mumbai. Certain vital clues regarding terror attacks have been picked up by investigators, Patil told reporters after the cabinet meeting.
Refusing to divulge details, Patil said: “We have certain information but it is premature information. It will not be proper to share premature information as it may compromise the ongoing operations.”
“We are ready to extend all help to Maharashtra government. The center had sent naval commandos as also NSG commandos to help Mumbai police in anti-terror operations,” Patil said. The prime minister was in touch with Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Patil said.
Earlier in the day, Singh held a high level meeting with leader of opposition L.K. Advani (Bharatiya Janata Party) and discussed the situation with him. Advani will accompany Singh in a visit to Mumbai, which is expected to take place soon. Singh canceled the election rally he was scheduled to address yesterday in the capital city, which faces polls tomorrow.
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, who is also United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson, strongly condemned Mumbai terror strikes as a “barbaric act” to weaken the country. “This is not only a matter of security of the country, but also of its pride. Terrorists are enemies of the country and we have to deal with them sternly.”
Describing attacks as “unprecedented in nature,” condemning them, Advani said: “This is an audacious attack and a challenge to the nation. While maintaining calm and unity, we must resolve to break the back of India’s enemy.”
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind chief Mahmood Madani deplored the attacks in strongest possible terms and said there could be absolutely no rationale or justification for this kind of a dastardly act.
“If what the government and the media are saying is true, that those involved in the heinous act are indeed Muslims or have acted in the name of Islam, I wish to tell them that what they have done is not only a war against humanity and the country but also a war against Islam. This is not jihad but ‘fasaad’ (wanton killings, terrorism), and under Islamic law it carries a very severe punishment. Such acts not only have no sanction under Islam, they actually do great damage to this great religion of peace,” Madani said in a statement.
“Our country is passing through very difficult times. Many of us have lost our near and near ones but we must keep our emotions in check and not allow anybody to exploit us. Failure to do so will only help those responsible for such acts. It is incumbent upon all of us, politicians and civil society alike to rise to the occasion and defeat this sinister conspiracy to divide us. As Indians we must sink our differences of caste and creed and unite to defeat those who are bent on polarizing our society,” he added.
— With input from agencies
