Pakistan has not fulfilled its promises of bringing to book the perpetrators of the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said here on Friday, second anniversary of the tragedy.
The Minister expressed the hope that “Pakistan would realise its responsibility as a nation and government and fulfil its promises to bring to justice, those who perpetrated the attacks.”
Mr. Chidambaram was addressing a function organised to award the dealership of a CNG outlet to the family of assistant sub-inspector Tukaram Ombale, who was killed while intercepting Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab.
“Our neighbour Pakistan made many promises to us that they will bring to justice the masterminds, controllers and handlers of the 26/11 tragedy. They have not done so, so far. They promised me they will arrest all the seven persons whose names I had handed over to them. They have not done that so far. They promised me, they will provide voice samples of the persons whose names are handed over. They have not done so far … It is my duty to caution the people that we have a neighbour who has not yet fulfilled the promises it made to us.”
“No ambitions”
Calling for a cautionary approach while dealing with Pakistan, he said, “While we must trust our neighbour, we must always verify. We must always be on our guard, always be vigilant. India has no ambitions except to live in peace and harmony. India wants all her neighbours to grow at the same rate at which India grows. India wishes prosperity for all the people of South Asia.”
Saluting Ombale, Mr. Chidambaram said it was his sacrifice that led the police to capture Kasab alive. “If Kasab had died, there would be no conclusive link to Pakistan. The fact that we were able to capture Kasab alive, proved the conclusive link to Pakistan, and that the terror attack was mounted from Pakistan's soil.”
Police reforms
Among the many lessons learnt post 26/11, one was need to “pay attention to the police forces of this country.”
“If you don't pay attention, you will not have an efficient, equipped police force in times of distress and tragedy. We must recruit more police personnel. There are still over 3,00,000 vacancies in the constabulary all over the country. We must give them proper shoes, uniforms, training, weapons, a decent pay and housing. If we neglect these, how will we have a force that will rise to the occasion in times of tragedy or distress? In the last two years, States have responded to my call and done quite a bit, but I am afraid, there is still some distance to go. I sincerely hope that Maharashtra will show the lead under the leadership of [Chief Minister] Prithviraj Chavan,” Mr. Chidambaram said.
He thanked the Petroleum Ministry for giving the CNG outlet to Ombale's family and to the families of 17 other martyrs, in the previous years. The government would stand by the families and help them come out of their emotional traumas.
Mr. Chidambaram remembered the martyrs of 26/11 as well those killed in other tragedies prior to the 26/11 attacks.
Mr. Chavan and Murli Deora, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, attended the event.
“Extraordinary deed”
Mr. Chavan hailed the police for their response to the attacks. He said Ombale came from a humble farming household, but his deed was extraordinary. The Maharashtra government would do everything to support the families and to ensure security.
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