Homage to 26/11 victims, Obama sends message against terror

Mumbai, Nov 6 (PTI) Standing not far from where 10
Pakistani terrorists sneaked through the sea route nearly two
years back to attack India's financial capital, President
Barack Obama paid homage to the victims and demanded that
those behind the carnage be punished.
Flanked by his wife Michelle, Obama made a point by
beginning his first public engagement of a three-day visit to
India at the Taj Hotel where 32 of the 166 died in attacks at
seven places in a 60-hour siege that began on the night of
November 26, 2008.
A sombre Obama let it be known that he had purposely
chosen the hotel for his stay as well as his first official
engagement to "simply absolutely" send a message.
In a six-minute speech, he paid tributes to the people of
Mumbai and India, hailing their resolve and resilience which
stood "in stark contrast to the savagary of the terrorists who
came to kill innocent civilians that day."
Commending the co-existence of various faiths in India,
the US President said that terrorists had "wanted to pit
believers of different faiths against one another" because
diversity was Mumbai's and India's strength.
After his speech, Obama and his wife turned towards the
Arabian Sea from where the terrorists had come in boats to
launch the attacks. "There is the spirit of Gateway behind
us," he told Michelle pointing to the iconic Gateway of India
from the terrace of the hotel where the memorial service was
held.
He wrote in the visitors' book: "The United States stands
in solidarity with all of Mumbai and India in working to
eradicate the scourge of terrorism. We offer our lasting
friendship to the Indian people."
In his address, he said, "We will never forget the awful
images of the 26/11 attacks, the flames from Taj Hotel that
lit up the night sky on those four days of November, 2008."
He said the US and India are "working together, more
closely than ever to deepening counter-terrorism
(cooperation), to keep our people safe."
The two countries have been sharing intelligence to
avoiding more attacks and demanding that the perpetrators be
brought to justice, Obama said.
In this context, he said he was looking forward to
meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi to deepening
cooperation in counter-terrorism.
After his brief address, Obama and his wife mingled with
the gathering, shaking hands and interacting with some of the
kin of the dead, including General Manager Karamveer Kang
whose wife and two sons were killed in the attack.
He was received at the hotel by Taj Group Chairman Ratan
Tata. PTI PP
MYR