New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi
on Wednesday said the country has learnt many hard lessons from
Mumbai terror strikes and emerged stronger.
In a statement on the eve of the first anniversary of
the 26/11 terror attack, Gandhi said it was "an assault on the
very idea of India".
"We have learnt many hard lessons from the tragedy of
26/11. But, we have also learnt that no terrorist attack will
ever be able to hit at the spirit of Mumbai and its people.
"If that was the aim of the terrorists, they miserably
failed...If the terrorists were seeking to divide our nation,
create chaos and divert us from our chosen path, they
miscalculated totally. India has emerged stronger," Gandhi
said.
She described the siege by the terrorists as "a brutal
and wanton assault on innocent men, women and children...an
assault on a city and its spirit of vitality and enterprise,
its rich pluralistic culture. It was an assault on the very
idea of India".
Paying homage to the dead and empathising with their
loved ones, she said she salutes the "indomitable spirit of
the people of India."
"We have seen the courage, resilience and determination
with which Mumbaikars have resumed their lives."
Gandhi said the country continues to draw strength and
inspiration from the heroism and humanity displayed by so many
ordinary citizens, who risked their lives to save others.
While recalling that a year has passed since the
attack, she spoke of the "rich pluralistic culture" of the
city where people of different faiths live and work in
harmony.
Gandhi also recalled the "selfless and untiring
dedication" with which doctors, nurses, fire brigade and
ambulance services worked to bring succour to the wounded and
traumatized.
"We salute the memory of all those, who perished
during those 50 terrible hours -- the unsuspecting victims
whom destiny had placed on the path of terrorist bullets, the
brave officers and men of the Mumbai police, the National
Security Guard personnel called upon to do their duty and the
hotel staffs, who died as they tried to shelter their guests,"
Gandhi said.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 20:10