President meets Mumbai terror attack injured (Lead)

President Pratibha Patil arrived here Monday evening, cutting short her South-East Asian tour, and met those injured in last week's Mumbai terror attacks at the J.J. Hospital, urging people to work together in the fight against terrorism.

"The incidents in Mumbai were an act of terrorism and committed by those who have no respect for human life. The armed and trained terrorists deliberately targeted innocent lives to cause panic, to disrupt normal life, to inflict damage and hamper the progress of the country," Patil observed.

Commending the officers of the combined security forces who carried out the successful operation against the terrorists, President Patil said, "Those brave men of my defence forces, the security personnel of the National Security Guard and the Maharashtra Police, who fought valiantly and those among them who lost their lives, deserve the nation's gratitude."

Condemning the terrorist attack in the strongest words, President Patil said the consensus of the nation is that "terrorism is unacceptable".

She stressed that the need of the hour is for the whole nation to stand united and support all measures to deal effectively with the situation. She said the government is looking at strengthening the laws as well as the security system.

Reiterating that the safety and security of the citizens is of utmost importance, she called upon people to work together in the fight against terrorism. "This is important for the nation's security. It is only when we are united that the nation will continue to progress," she said.

On Tuesday, the president will call on the bereaved families of the slain police officers - Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar - who lost their lives fighting the terrorists.

A delegation of the opposition, led by Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray, is expected to call on the president at Raj Bhavan Tuesday morning to demand imposition of President's Rule in the state.

--Indo-Asian News Service

Last updated on Dec 1^st, 2008 at 23:00 pm IST--