Press Trust of India | In a rare display of unity, government and the opposition on Thursday spoke in one voice on tackling terror as Parliament adopted a resolution against the Mumbai attacks and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh apologised to the nation that the carnage could not be prevented.
"On behalf of the government, I would like to apologise to our people that this dastardly act could not not be prevented," the Prime Minister said winding up a day-long discussion on the Mumbai terror attacks that was by and large devoid of usual recrimination and went beyond partisan lines.
Vowing to gear up the security apparatus, including land, coastal and aerial protection, to pre-empt future terror attacks, Singh outlined various steps to deal with terrorism including setting up of National Investigation Agency.
On the external front, he said the international community has to be galvanised into "dealing sternly and effectively with the epicentre of terrorism, which is located in Pakistan. "The infrastructure of terrorism has to be dismantled and permanently. This is for the good of the entire world community, including the well being of the people of Pakistan themselves."
Singh moved a resolution declaring the country's resolve not to cease its efforts in bringing to justice the terrorists and those who trained, funded and abetted them. It also resolved to firmly counter all evil designs against the country's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Home Minister P Chidambaram admitted "gaps" in intelligence machinery and "lapses" like "systemic mistakes" and "indecision". As those in government, they accepted the responsibility for the lapses and promised to take corrective steps.
Singh said India has so far exercised "utmost restraint" but let not its commitment to civilised norms be "misconstrued as a sign of weakness."
Making an intervention during the debate on the Mumbai attacks in Lok Sabha, Singh noted the action by Pakistan against Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Mohd Saeed but asserted that Islamabad needed to do "much more" to take things to logical conclusion and convince the world about its actions.
Opening the debate, Leader of the Opposition and BJP stalwart extended full support to the government in the "war on terror". "The Home Minister has talked of taking hard decisions. Whatever steps you take which would help win the war on terror, my party and the NDA will support them," Advani said in the Lok Sabha.
He said it must be understood that the "epicentre" of terrorism against India was in Pakistan and that the ISI was also a "non-state actor" as it was "not under the control of the elected government in Pakistan and is answerable only to the Pakistan Army".
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee ruled out war as an option against Pakistan but said "there would be a situation that we do not want" if the neighbour failed to act against elements on its soil spreading terror against India.
The unity of political parties against recent terror strikes was evident from the start of the day when both the Houses suspended question hour and took up discussion on the issue after government made a statement on the Mumbai attacks.
Outlining steps to gear up the country's security system to meet the "unprecedented threat", Singh said the government has decided to set up a National Investigation Agency, decentralise NSG, form more commando units, strengthen coastal security by making the Coast Guard the sole force responsible for it and step up air surveillance.
The Prime Minister said the government has already decided to strengthen the legal framework to deal with terror and also set up a national investigation agency. He asserted that terrorism will be fought with determination to ensure that the scourge is destroyed from its roots and for that "all means and measures" would be used.
He said the government's immediate priority was to restore a sense of security among the people of the country and prepare the nation to meet "these kinds of assaults". The government will also have to galvanise the world community into dealing "sternly and effectively" with Pakistan and press Islamabad bilaterally to act against terrorists.
Ridiculing Pakistani statements that non-state actors could be behind the terror attacks in India, Mukherjee asked "are these non state actors from heaven? Are they coming from another planet? They are located in the territory of a particular country."
The External Affairs Minister raised questions over Pakistan's sincerity in curbing the activities of terror groups operating from its soil as he suggested that "house arrest" of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Mohd Saeed was not enough.
He wanted Islamabad to take "serious" action to completely dismantle terror infrastructure and end infiltration. Mukherjee also slammed Pakistan for creating a war "hysteria" by indulging in "propaganda" on the basis of a hoax call that "big power" India was going to attack.
The Minister said India has repeatedly given Pakistan a list of 40 terrorists, including Dawood Ibrahim, with a demand that they be handed over and expressed hope that Islamabad would respond positively.
Chidambaram, who was shifted to Home Ministry after the November 26 Mumbai attacks, said "hard decisions" would be taken in the coming days and weeks. Advani said India was facing a "terror war" and the whole nation is united including the government and the opposition when it comes to fighting this war.
In his speech, which at times saw ruling coalition members joining those in the opposition in thumping desks, Advani described the current action against some of the terror outfits in Pakistan as a "drama" and "show" and asked the Indian government not to be "fooled" by such acts.
Congress' heir-apparent Rahul Gandhi described the Mumbai strikes as a "war on India" and said the message should go to the perpetrators that there is a "cost" to killing innocent Indians. "It is not enough for us to protect the people ... we should go one step beyond," he said.
Mukherjee gave a strong warning to Pakistan, saying if Islamabad failed to act against elements responsible for spreading terror against the country, "there would be situation that we do not want". "I expect them to act. Otherwise it will not be business as usual.
There would be situation which we do not want," he said in Rajya Sabha. However, to a demand from one of the members that India should attack Pakistan, Mukherjee said "I am making it quite clear this (war) is no no solution".
Chidambaram said the government proposes to bring a set of Bills "to strengthen the legal provisions relating to the prevention, investigation, prosecution and punishment of terror acts".-NDTV![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_b.png?x-id=a12e9d0b-8c46-45b7-9665-8bee0291e195)
"On behalf of the government, I would like to apologise to our people that this dastardly act could not not be prevented," the Prime Minister said winding up a day-long discussion on the Mumbai terror attacks that was by and large devoid of usual recrimination and went beyond partisan lines.
Vowing to gear up the security apparatus, including land, coastal and aerial protection, to pre-empt future terror attacks, Singh outlined various steps to deal with terrorism including setting up of National Investigation Agency.
On the external front, he said the international community has to be galvanised into "dealing sternly and effectively with the epicentre of terrorism, which is located in Pakistan. "The infrastructure of terrorism has to be dismantled and permanently. This is for the good of the entire world community, including the well being of the people of Pakistan themselves."
Singh moved a resolution declaring the country's resolve not to cease its efforts in bringing to justice the terrorists and those who trained, funded and abetted them. It also resolved to firmly counter all evil designs against the country's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Home Minister P Chidambaram admitted "gaps" in intelligence machinery and "lapses" like "systemic mistakes" and "indecision". As those in government, they accepted the responsibility for the lapses and promised to take corrective steps.
Singh said India has so far exercised "utmost restraint" but let not its commitment to civilised norms be "misconstrued as a sign of weakness."
Making an intervention during the debate on the Mumbai attacks in Lok Sabha, Singh noted the action by Pakistan against Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Mohd Saeed but asserted that Islamabad needed to do "much more" to take things to logical conclusion and convince the world about its actions.
Opening the debate, Leader of the Opposition and BJP stalwart extended full support to the government in the "war on terror". "The Home Minister has talked of taking hard decisions. Whatever steps you take which would help win the war on terror, my party and the NDA will support them," Advani said in the Lok Sabha.
He said it must be understood that the "epicentre" of terrorism against India was in Pakistan and that the ISI was also a "non-state actor" as it was "not under the control of the elected government in Pakistan and is answerable only to the Pakistan Army".
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee ruled out war as an option against Pakistan but said "there would be a situation that we do not want" if the neighbour failed to act against elements on its soil spreading terror against India.
The unity of political parties against recent terror strikes was evident from the start of the day when both the Houses suspended question hour and took up discussion on the issue after government made a statement on the Mumbai attacks.
Outlining steps to gear up the country's security system to meet the "unprecedented threat", Singh said the government has decided to set up a National Investigation Agency, decentralise NSG, form more commando units, strengthen coastal security by making the Coast Guard the sole force responsible for it and step up air surveillance.
The Prime Minister said the government has already decided to strengthen the legal framework to deal with terror and also set up a national investigation agency. He asserted that terrorism will be fought with determination to ensure that the scourge is destroyed from its roots and for that "all means and measures" would be used.
He said the government's immediate priority was to restore a sense of security among the people of the country and prepare the nation to meet "these kinds of assaults". The government will also have to galvanise the world community into dealing "sternly and effectively" with Pakistan and press Islamabad bilaterally to act against terrorists.
Ridiculing Pakistani statements that non-state actors could be behind the terror attacks in India, Mukherjee asked "are these non state actors from heaven? Are they coming from another planet? They are located in the territory of a particular country."
The External Affairs Minister raised questions over Pakistan's sincerity in curbing the activities of terror groups operating from its soil as he suggested that "house arrest" of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Mohd Saeed was not enough.
He wanted Islamabad to take "serious" action to completely dismantle terror infrastructure and end infiltration. Mukherjee also slammed Pakistan for creating a war "hysteria" by indulging in "propaganda" on the basis of a hoax call that "big power" India was going to attack.
The Minister said India has repeatedly given Pakistan a list of 40 terrorists, including Dawood Ibrahim, with a demand that they be handed over and expressed hope that Islamabad would respond positively.
Chidambaram, who was shifted to Home Ministry after the November 26 Mumbai attacks, said "hard decisions" would be taken in the coming days and weeks. Advani said India was facing a "terror war" and the whole nation is united including the government and the opposition when it comes to fighting this war.
In his speech, which at times saw ruling coalition members joining those in the opposition in thumping desks, Advani described the current action against some of the terror outfits in Pakistan as a "drama" and "show" and asked the Indian government not to be "fooled" by such acts.
Congress' heir-apparent Rahul Gandhi described the Mumbai strikes as a "war on India" and said the message should go to the perpetrators that there is a "cost" to killing innocent Indians. "It is not enough for us to protect the people ... we should go one step beyond," he said.
Mukherjee gave a strong warning to Pakistan, saying if Islamabad failed to act against elements responsible for spreading terror against the country, "there would be situation that we do not want". "I expect them to act. Otherwise it will not be business as usual.
There would be situation which we do not want," he said in Rajya Sabha. However, to a demand from one of the members that India should attack Pakistan, Mukherjee said "I am making it quite clear this (war) is no no solution".
Chidambaram said the government proposes to bring a set of Bills "to strengthen the legal provisions relating to the prevention, investigation, prosecution and punishment of terror acts".-NDTV
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