On Mann ki Baat, Modi pays tribute to 26/11 Mumbai attack victims: ‘India can never forget’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was referring to the Mumbai attack on Mann ki Baat radio show on Sunday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while referring to the Mumbai terror attacks on his monthly Mann ki Baat radio show on Sunday, said India can never forget this day when it faced “its most heinous terror attack”.
“We can never forget November 26. It was on this day that the most heinous terrorist attack took place in the country. Terrorists had shaken Mumbai and the entire country. But, it is India’s capability that we recovered from that attack and now we are also crushing terrorism with full courage,” Modi said on the 15th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
On November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists arrived by the sea route and opened indiscriminate firing, killing 166 people, including 18 security personnel, and injuring several others, besides damaging property worth crores of rupees.
The then Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, Army Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Mumbai's additional police commissioner Ashok Kamte and senior police inspector Vijay Salaskar were among those killed in the attacks.
The attacks began on November 26, 2008, and lasted until November 29. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Oberoi Trident, the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, the Nariman House Jewish community centre were some of the places targeted by the terrorists.
Nine terrorists were later killed by the security forces.
Ajmal Kasab was the only terrorist who was captured alive. He was hanged four years later on November 21, 2012.
The prime minister also noted that November 26 is also important for another reason as in 1949, the Constituent Assembly had adopted the Constitution of India on this day
“I remember when we were celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar in 2015, the idea came that November 26 be celebrated as Constitution Day… I extend wishes to all on Constitution day,” he said.
“All of us together, by giving priorities to the duties of the citizens, will definitely fulfil the resolve of making the country developed,” Modi said.
In his remarks, the prime minister also said business of around ₹4 lakh crore took place during recent festivals and a lot of enthusiasm was seen among people to buy made-in-India products.
Modi also questioned the practice of some families organising weddings abroad and urged all to hold such celebrations within the country.