Mumbai attacks: Govt admits to intelligence failure
Updated on
Friday, December 05, 2008, 00:00
IST
Mumbai, Dec 05: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday admitted to security lapses and failure of the Indian Intelligence in the wake of the gory terror attack on the commercial capital of India. However he also assured the countrymen that the government was determined to root out terrorism.
“There have been lapses, and these are being looked into, “the Home Minister said while addressing a press conference shortly after he arrived in Mumbai and paid a visit to all the places affected by the terror attacks last week.
He also told reporters that “some security forces” may have failed but pointed out that hundreds more could have been killed in the city if the security personnel had not taken on the terrorists.
“We will address the causes that led to those lapses,” he added.
Chidambaram further assured the people of Maharashtra that the government is in no mood to spare the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
“I apologise to the people of Mumbai (for what happened). The Maharashtra government is determined to root out terrorism. We will strain every nerve to improve the security system of our country. We must take on the challenge and overcome it,” he added.
The Home Minister also made an emotional appeal to the people of Maharashtra to stand by the government in the times of crisis.
Referring to the Mumbai carnage, he asked people not to be harsh on the security agencies.
Chidambaram, who came to Mumbai for the first time since taking charge as the Home Minister, also met the injured at J J hospital this morning.
The minister also paid homage to everyone killed by terrorists who Indian officials say sneaked into Mumbai by boat, apparently after sailing from the Pakistani port city of Karachi.
“We deeply regret the deaths… We give our sincere and heartfelt condolences to their families and the beloved ones.”
He also visited Chatrapathi Shivaji Terminus (CST) Railway Station, Taj and Oberoi-Trident hotels according to Deputy Commissioner of Police Amar Jadhav.