Posted on 09/11/2001 11:38:34 PM PDT by freedom_from_socialism
India tonight unequivocally condemned terrorist attacks in New York and Washington and expressed deep shock over the "dastardly crime" against American people and humanity as a whole even as it reiterated its commitment to fight the menace of international terrorism.
The worst-ever terrorist strike in the US prompted Prime Minister A B Vajpayee to convene an emergency meeting of the full Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) tonight. The meeting attended by all senior ministers, chiefs of the three Services and intelligence agencies, took stock of the full international and domestic implications for India. "India offers to the United States its deepest sympathy. We stand with the US and the rest of the international community in our commitment to defeat terrorism," External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh told reporters after a 45-minute specially-convened meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security.
Mr Singh said that "the present is the moment for all mankind to condemn, in unequivocal terms, the dastardly crime, for the victims are all innocents, and this crime of terrorism is against all humanity." India conveyed its condolences and sympathies to the people, Government and President of the United States, he said.
The Prime Minister A B Vajpayee would personally speak to US President George W Bush as soon as the latter was available over telephone, the minister said. He said the members of the Indian Embassy and Permanent Mission in New York were safe and that the Government was in constant touch with these missions. The Government did not have any information at the moment about the safety and security of Indian citizens in the US or the People of Indian origin in the country, he further said.
Ahead of the CCS, the Government sounded red alert in the capital as well as all metros in the country to take additional precautionary measures to guard against terrorist violence. The Government also ordered additional security for all American establishments in the country – US Embassy in the capital, Consulates in the metros and American Centres elsewhere. Following the CCS meeting, Mr Singh said action in this regard was already initiated. Asked whether the Prime Minister’s scheduled visit to New York to address the UN General Assembly from September 20 stood, Mr Singh said he could not say anything about it now. The UN General Assembly session was scheduled to begin today. Mr Singh spoke to US Ambassador Robert Blackwill and offered all necessary measures to reinforce security around American establishments in the country. He also asked Lt. Governor of Delhi Vijay Kapoor to get in touch with the US Ambassador for whatever additional security precaution was required. However, within hours of the horror in New York and Washington security was been beefed up around the US Embassy along the Shatipath and other American establishments in the capital.
A spokesman for the American Embassy, meanwhile, announced that the US establishments all over the country would remain closed tomorrow.
He also issued an advisory to the American citizens in the country to exercise caution, though he added that the Embassy had received no information about possible threat to them.
"We are beefing up security at all important installations. Special arrangements are being made at the US and Israeli embassies," Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police Suresh Roy said here tonight.
The Government's decision to reinforce security for the US establishments also follows a development in mid-June this year involving the arrest of two persons in the capital. A Sudanese national, Abdel Raouf Hawash and his Indian accomplice Shameem Sarvar were arrested as they were allegedly involved in a conspiracy to bomb the US Embassy.
Investigators are also questioning ground handling personnel at Washington and Boston airports as to how the terrorists, who hijacked four planes, were able to carry knives or any other weapons that were apparently used by them to commandeer the planes that crashed into the World Trade Centre besides striking the Pentagon.
A fourth aircraft crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.
Thousands of investigators began piecing together the evidence to pinpoint those behind the worst ever terrorist acts in the US history and the needle of suspicion pointed towards Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden reportedly based on the intercept of communications of his supporters.
They were also investigating security lapses at the domestic airports from where the flight originated.
In New Jersey, three people travelling in a van were detained and were being questioned by the FBI. Officials denied earlier reports that the van was carrying explosives, but declined to give the exact location where they were nabbed.
Law and enforcement officials were going through the passengers list of the hijacked planes and were also investigating relatives of the passengers with whom they were in touch by cell phones before the planes crashed. ( PTI )
India created the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and put up their leaders at the fanciest hotel in Delhi. How dare they condemn terrorism?
And it's not even a democracy either, if you're a Christian, Sikh, Muslim, Dalit untouchable, or any one of numerous other minorities. These people have been and continue to be killed by the thousands, raped, have their institutions such as laces of worship attacked,and hve numerous other atrocities committed against them. Yet the world looks the other way because India claims to be a "democracy." Well, India shows why it's important to be a Republic, NOT a democracy. If that is what democracy is, I don't want any.
No, never even heard of them.
If you can't deal with the facts about India, a country you seem to love so much, then you really shouldn't comment on affairs there.
And with the handle freedom_from_socialism you really shouldn't be defending India. It's a socialist country.
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