World must fight terror unitedly: PM

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 26

Recalling the sacrifices of brave citizens in the Mumbai terror strikes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said terrorism posed a global threat “almost as a daily routine”, and stressed it had to be fought unitedly.

Today is the ninth anniversary of the gory attack, carried out by 10 terrorists from Pakistan over three days, that left 166 people dead.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Modi said even a few years ago, when India talked about the threats of terrorism, not many in the world were ready to take it seriously.

“Now that terrorism is knocking at their doors, every government in the world, those who believe in humanity, governments with faith in democracy, are seeing this as one of the biggest challenges,” he said in his monthly radio programme ‘Mann ki Baat’. Terrorism, the Prime Minister said, threatened humanity across the world. 

“Terrorism has taken an ugly shape and has become a global threat almost as a daily routine... Terrorism has challenged humanity. It is bent upon destroying humanitarian forces. So not only India, but all humanitarian forces will have to keep fighting unitedly to defeat the menace of terrorism,” he said. 

Modi said that while November 26 was observed as Constitution Day, the nation could not forget that on this day nine years ago, terrorists launched attacks across Mumbai. “The country remembers and bows to those brave citizens, policemen, security men and each one who lost their lives then. This country can never forget their sacrifice,” he said.

The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on this day in 1949. Congratulating people on the occasion of Constitution Day, the PM referred to the hard work put in by members of the Assembly who incorporated their vision in the document.

Modi stressed that equality for all and sensitivity towards all was the unique characteristic of the Constitution. He lauded Dr BR Ambedkar, who was chairperson of drafting committee, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who headed the advisory committee on fundamental rights, minorities and tribals for their farsighted contributions to framing of the Constitution.

Expressing gratitude to security forces for their sacrifices, he urged people to participate in week-long (December 1-7) campaign that will be run by the Ministry of Defence as run up to the Armed Forces Flag Day (December 7) to increase awareness about our armed forces. The PM exhorted the farmers to go in for soil testing of their agriculture land, which would help increase its fertility. (With PTI inputs)

Pak reluctant, case drags on for 9 yrs

Lahore: Nine years have passed since 10 LeT terrorists killed 166 people in Mumbai, but none of the suspects have been punished, indicating that this case has never been a priority for Pakistan, especially after the release of the attack's mastermind Hafiz Saeed, observers say. “The case is being tried in an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad since 2009. There has hardly been any such case in any ATC taking more than eight years and still pending. It is meant for speedy trial but in this case the ATC is acting like a sessions court,” a senior lawyer said. PTI

ATS deradicalises 86 people in 2 yrs

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has deradicalised 86 people in last two years as part of its efforts to wean away misguided youth from the path of extremism in the aftermath of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, an official said. The ones brought into the mainstream include well-educated people like a young couple, both post-graduates in pharmacy, an aeronautical engineer and an IT professional, he said. PTI