Date:30/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/30/stories/2008113054510800.htm

National

Evolve consensus to combat terrorism: Gowda

S. Rajendran

Bangalore: The former Prime Minister and national president of the Janata Dal (Secular) H.D. Deve Gowda has called upon all political parties to come together and evolve a consensus to combat the scourge of terrorism.

Senior JD (S) leader M.P. Veerendra Kumar will be attending the high level all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday.

In a statement here on Saturday, Mr. Deve Gowda said the Mumbai terror attacks should be the last nail in the coffin of terrorism in the country. “As a nation let us resolve not to let any parent mourn for their children, any child for its parents and any husband or wife for their spouses due to the dastardly actions of a few lunatic elements who cannot belong to any religion or mankind itself. There cannot be a greater tribute to those who lost their lives than a national resolve to fight terrorism as one people.”

Mr. Deve Gowda said as a former Prime Minister, “I appeal to all political parties to come together to evolve a consensus. Such a message of unity and unanimity will not only boost the morale of a nation, repeatedly shaken by terrorist actions but also send out to our enemies and the world at large a strong message of India’s national will and determination to take the challenge head on. I condemn the attempts to politicise these attacks by a section of our political class with a view to derive electoral mileage.”

He congratulated the brave men belonging to the Mumbai police, the National Security Guards and the armed forces. “It is my humble suggestion to the Union government to honour these national heroes with the highest awards.”