India celebrated yesterday its anniversary of independence from British rule with a vow to eradicate terrorism from its soil in the wake of last year’s devastating militant attacks on Mumbai.
India was strengthening its security to prevent assaults such as the carnage in the financial capital in November, in which 166 people were killed by Islamic gunmen, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said.
“After the Mumbai attacks our government has taken various steps and our intelligence agencies and security organizations are being strengthened,” Singh said in an address to the nation from the Red Fort in the Indian capital.
PHOTO: AP
“We will succeed in eradicating terrorism from Indian soil,” Singh added from behind a bullet-proof screen at the heavily guarded Mughal-built fort.
The annual Independence Day address marks the end of British rule in 1947 and partition of the subcontinent into mainly Hindu India and Muslim-majority Pakistan, a split that has caused endless tension in the region.
While Singh did not mention India’s rival Pakistan by name, he reiterated that India wants to live in peace and harmony with its neighbors.
Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan began a peace process in 2004 that was put on hold after the Mumbai attacks.
India said “official agencies” of Pakistan abetted the attackers who arrived by sea and targeted two hotels, a congested rail station and a Jewish center.
Islamabad rejects the allegations but accepts the attackers were Pakistani citizens and says it is making efforts to bring the plotters to justice.
Singh also pledged to crack down on Maoist insurgents who have set up base in nearly half of the country and who say they are fighting against the exploitation of landless farmers.
“People who think they can rule with the power of the gun underestimate the power of Indian democracy,” Singh said.
New Delhi was under a huge security blanket with heavily armed commandos guarding the imposing sandstone fort where cabinet ministers, diplomats and guests were invited to hear Singh’s speech.
Police barricades blocked roads.
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