New Delhi: Presenting a united face, both the Central Government and the Opposition led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) declared that the terror strikes are an act of war against India and the country will deal with it with an iron hand.
While Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said that the Government was taking a very strong stand on the Mumbai terror attack and revealed that India has already told UN Security Council "we have acted with restrain but we will take all action to protect our citizens"; leader of Opposition LK Advani assured the Government full support in the war against Pakistan-sponsored terror.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Chidambaram said that the entire South Asian region is now in the eye of terror storm.
Chidambaram assured that measures are being taken to enhance the country's security and more regional hubs of the National Security Guard (NSG) will soon be set up in the four major metros of the country. The Government will also set up 20 counter-insurgency units.
He said a Bill to set up a national investigative agency will be introduced in the present session of Parliament and a coastal command will be created to strengthen coastal security.
"I appeal to the house that all the Bills relating to country's security should be passed in this session," he said.
The Home Minister also admitted there was an intelligence failure in averting the Mumbai terror attack and revealed that intelligence agencies were short staffed assuring the Lok Sabha that all vacancies in the agencies will be filled up soon.
He said intelligence was shared with the Coast Guard and in a clear reference to Pakistan, Chidambaram said that the finger of suspicion points to our neighbour. Chidambaram said, "It is not appropriate to give more details about ongoing investigations but it is safe to say that finger of suspect is towards our neighbour."
"In the next few months we will have to take some hard decisions. I appeal the House to stand united on this and nothing should divide us, not religion or caste," he appealed.
"There were 10 terrorists involved in the Mumbai attacks. All of them were heavily armed. But with patience, skill and bravery our security forces were able to overcome the terrorists," Chidambaram added.
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Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha LK Advani, too, denounced Pakistan as an epicentre of terrorism and added that Mumbai terror attack is an act of war against India.
"This (Mumbai terror attack) is not just an incident. For the last several years this country is fighting a war. It is war and in this war the Opposition and the Government are together. The people of India irrespective of their caste, religion and creed are all together," said Advani.
“Like Pakistan we did not accept theocracy, we believed in secularism. Pakistan is the epicentre of terrorism and I agree whatever Union Home Minister has said,” Advani said while presenting a united face with the Government and added, “Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is also a part of India.
"The attack in Mumbai was like army commando operation. I feel the message should go to the world that this is a war," stressed Advani.
"If Government takes any hard decisions to curb terror my party and NDA (National Democratic Alliance) will back the Government," he added.
Advani, who was the union home minister during in the BJP-led NDA government, also pointed out that ISI was not under the control of the Government of Pakistan.
“We should not be fooled by what Pakistan is doing. It is just house arresting some suspects. Terror organisations in Pakistan change their names after the authorities impose a so called ban on them,” the senior BJP leader added.
Advani said greater American role is needed to curd terrorism and added that the United Nations Security Council is ineffective in dealing with this menace. “I have doubts on UN Security Council after their stand on Kashmir.”
He also cautioned against equating terror with religion saying, “Spiritual Islam is to be respected, but political Islam of this kind as propagated by terror organisations is not acceptable. Even Muslims are very angry after Mumbai attacks.”
The role of Dawood Ibrahim in Mumbai attack should also be probed. The whole world knows he stays in Pakistan," he demanded
Over 200 people were killed and more than 300 others injured in the coordinated terror strikes at major landmarks in Mumbai by 10 Pakistan-trained terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Tioba.
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