Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Affront indeed

The editorial “An affront to the Indian state” (Nov. 28) aptly summed up the Mumbai terror attacks. Terrorist strikes in 11 different parts of a city, in fact, constitute a threat to the very existence of a sovereign state. Let us remind ourselves that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.

We have a tendency to become complacent after the initial intense response to a terror strike. We need to have a united political leadership and strengthen our intelligence and security mechanism.

S. Gopalakrishnan,

Chennai

The attacks in Mumbai by suspected jihadis from across the border are indeed an affront to India. It is astonishing how even after the Marriot Hotel attack in Islamabad, the Indian think-tank did not deem it fit to upgrade the security of hotels in Mumbai. Is it possible to have normal ties with Pakistan hereafter?

S. Devarajan,

Nellore

The editorial was right in warning the UPA government not to introduce draconian provisions drawn from POTA as they are prone to be misused against the innocent. What is required is the strengthening of the intelligence machinery to pre-empt such attacks rather than arrest the terrorists under stringent laws after hundreds of lives have been lost.

The editorial also rightly emphasised the need to promote communal harmony to avoid the bitterness of religious politics.

A. Faizur Rahman

Chennai

The Mumbai attack reveals two things — that the terrorists are young, perhaps less than 30, with no specific agenda except to kill people and that the time has come to create a federal agency to combat terrorism.

Anant Paliwal,

Ghaziabad

It is time the country sent a strong message to terrorists across the world — that they can shake the foundation of our buildings by their cowardly acts but not India’s resolve to fight terror.

Prerna Sharma,

Gurgaon

India has responded to the Mumbai attack in a way that is different from the responses of the past. This is the time when we feel more than ever that we are one, and that we need to stand united.

Sajeer Fazil,

Kozhikode

It was comforting to see the political class united at this hour of grief. The audacity of the terrorists who attacked five star hotels in a bid to take foreigners hostage and indiscriminately shot innocent people goes to prove that we have become a soft target for terrorists. Surely, there were foreign links but this war on Mumbai could not have been carried out without support from within the country.

Hilda Raja,

Vadodara

Our hearts go out to the Mumbaikars who have been bearing the brunt of terror strikes from time to time. We see a dim light of hope at the end of the tunnel with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Opposition leader L.K. Advani and all national leaders speaking in one voice. India needs such united leadership at this hour.

D. Davidson Jebaseelan,

Tiruchi

The dastardly terrorist attacks in Mumbai deserve the most severe condemnation. The investigation into the attacks should be done without pre-conceived notions. The possibility of a deep-rooted conspiracy should be explored. The political establishment should be wary of all religious extremist rabble-rousers and go all out in unifying all sections without the slightest inkling of victimisation of any section.

Kasim Sait,

Chennai

The fact that well guarded luxury hotels and innocent neighbourhoods were like sitting ducks to the evil machinations of the terrorists sends a shudder down our spine. The worst hit was the Mumbai police. Let us together condemn this act of cowardice.

S. Samiuddin Muzammil,

Kurnool

While we grieve for the victims of the wretched attacks, we must not falter in preparing for such situations in future. The latest and most visible attack in Mumbai shows that terrorism in India has entered a new phase. We must learn to deal with terrorists ruthlessly and mercilessly.

Rajendra K. Aneja,

Dubai

The modus operandi of the terrorists who attacked Mumbai was different from earlier terror strikes. They have gone on the rampage with guns and grenades and fearlessly killed people openly. They have targeted posh hotels, a train station, hospital and restaurant. The need of the hour is vigil against enemies.

Bhavesh Kumar,

Bhagalpur

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