New Delhi: The Government on Thursday said the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto on Thursday was a tragedy and a terrible blow to the democratic process.
"In her death the subcontinent has lost an outstanding leader who worked for democracy and reconciliation in her country," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in a statement.
"The manner of her going is a reminder of the common dangers that our region faces from cowardly acts of terrorism and of the need to eradicate this dangerous threat." Benazir was assassinated in a gun and bomb attack as she left an election rally in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi, ahead of a national election due on January 8.
Singh said he was "deeply shocked and horrified" to hear of the death of a leader "who left a deep imprint on her time and age". Her desire to improve relations with India were "exemplary", he added.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee praised Benazir as "outstanding woman leader of the subcontinent" and said her contribution to democracy, to the improvement of India-Pakistan relations, and to the restoration of normalcy within Pakistan will be an inspiration."
Senior BJP leader LK Advani said Benazir’s assassination had “shocked” him. "The news from Rawalpindi has come as a shock to me. The former Prime Minister of Pakistan and a tall leader who for years had been struggling for restoration of democracy in Pakistan has fallen victim to a terrorist attack," he told reporters in Delhi.
"I have a feeling that the kind of talibanisation of Pakistan that is taking place is a threat to India's security also," said Advani.
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