The South Asian: South Asian Groups Deplore Mumbai Blasts

July 16, 2006

South Asian Groups Deplore Mumbai Blasts

South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy (SANSAD), The Southasian, and other south asian peace organizations utterly deplores the bomb blasts in Mumbai on July 11 that killed some 200 people and injured more than 700. We express our deepest condolences for all the bereaved families and extend our sincere wishes for the early recovery of all who are injured.

Such well-planned, orchestrated action at simultaneously seven railway stations could either be a job of agent provocateurs working for some powerful masters determined to create disorder and to lay the groundwork for further violence; or, of an organized group of callous crusaders, fanatically blinded with their narrow mission, and willing to go to any cruel extent, including killing vast numbers of absolutely innocent people.

One more time, the good people of Mumbai have been subjected to a tragedy of huge proportions.

Manmohan Singh government has already pointed the accusing finger to "cross-border" connections, obviously refering to the neighboring Pakistan. We only hope that it has done its investigations thoroughly before making such standard accusations. With deep regret we note that the process of normailzation of India-Pakistan relations has already been impacted, since the Foreign Seretary level meeting planned for the next week has been cancelled. The vast majority of the people in the two countries want peaceful, mutually respectful, and normal neighbourly relations, and we hope that the on-going process would resume soon.

Over two hundred people in Mumbai, supposedly belonging to one particular organization, have already been rounded up for interrogtions. Once again, we hope that this rounding-up do not victimize innocent citizens, as has happened many times before in India, and that the process of interrogation is carried out following proper judicial norms.

If the intention of the Mumbai blasters was to terrorize and demoralize people they have undoubtedly failed. With great admiration we have noted that the people of Mumbai have refused to allow the bomb-blasters any success beyond the physical damage they have inflicted. They have come together in solidarity to meet this challenge: Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Parsee, and Sikh walking hand in hand, sharing blood and giving shelter and relief. We hail the spirit of the people of Mumbai who, refusing to be terrorized, have maintained their collective and solemn sobriety. Their resilience and their humanity make us proud.

We hope that this spirit of pluralism, of shared humanity, will continue undisturbed. It is particularly important in view of the disturbing news that Gujarat's Narendra Modi has decided to soon come to Mumbai for two days to supposedly reignite the Hindutava forces. Let the people of Mumbai succeed in frustrating Modi, and his likes, in trying to provoke them into narrow sectarianism.

SANSAD

Suite 435, 205 - 329 North Road

Coquitlam (Greater Vancouver), B.C., Canada

V3K 6Z8,
The South Asian

Posted by collective at July 16, 2006 09:44 PM

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