On the anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 26 said India faced the most heinous attack on this day but it was the country’s capability that it recovered from that assault and was also “crushing terrorism” with all its courage.
In his Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast, Mr. Modi paid homage to all those who lost their lives in the Mumbai attack and noted that the nation is remembering the brave martyrs.
“We can never forget November 26. It was on this day that the most heinous terrorist attack took place in the country. Terrorists had shaken Mumbai and the entire country. But, it is India’s capability that we recovered from that attack and now we are also crushing terrorism with full courage,” he asserted.
On November 26, 2008, 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists from Pakistan arrived by sea route and opened fire, killing 166 people, including 18 security personnel, and injuring several others during a 60-hour siege in Mumbai.
Remembering 26/11: Images from then and now
In this file photo taken on November 27, 2008 firefighters attempt to put out a fire as smoke billows from the hotel.
The iconic Taj Mahal Palace hotel, the epicenter of the 2008 terror attacks, with its imposing, red-tiled dome, overlooks the Gateway of India monument, left, in Mumbai, India.
Thirty-one people died inside the hotel, including staff trying to guide the guests to safety.
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus was a target during the attack. Policemen seen at the shooting site at Chattrapati Shivaji railway terminus on November 26, 2008.
National Security Guard commandos surround Nariman House where militants were holed up on November 28, 2008. Bullet marks of the deadly terror attack are still visible on the walls of Jewish Chabad community centre (Nariman House).
In this photo taken on November 22, 2018, an employee is reflected on a glass panel with a bullet hole from the 2008 Mumbai attacks at the Leopold Cafe, the site of one of the assaults, in Mumbai.
Nariman House at Colaba was also targeted during the attack.
In this November 27, 2008, fire engulfs a part of the Taj Hotel in Mumbai.
Illuminated Taj Mahal Palace hotel and tower seen on December 21, 2008. The hotel reopened its doors to a thousand guests this day, after the terror attacks.
The room of Moshe Holtzberg, son of slain US Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg who was killed with his wife, is seen left in the same state following the 2008 Mumbai militant attacks on November 25, 2018. Nariman House, one of the targets of the attacks, was renamed the Nariman Light House and will be a memorial, making it the only place in Mumbai to honour all the 166 victims of the incident.
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The Prime Minister also noted that November 26 is also important for another reason as in 1949, the Constituent Assembly had adopted the Constitution of India on this day “I remember when we were celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar in 2015, the idea came that November 26 be celebrated as Constitution Day… I extend wishes to all on Constitution day,” he said.
“All of us together, by giving priorities to the duties of the citizens, will definitely fulfil the resolve of making the country developed,” Mr/ Modi said.
In his remarks, the prime minister also said business of around Rs 4 lakh crore took place during recent festivals and a lot of enthusiasm was seen among people to buy made-in-India products.
Mr. Modi also questioned the practice of some families organising weddings abroad and urged all to hold such celebrations within the country.