By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : US lawmakers, senior officials, professionals, security experts, students and a wide cross section of Americans have expressed support for the government and the people of India in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks.
The attacks are evoking strong condemnation in the US with expressions of deep solidarity, shock and sympathy for the victims and their families continuing to be sent to the Indian embassy and consulates.
US Congressmen and Senators have unequivocally condemned the terrorist attacks in Mumbai in strongest terms and underlined their firm resolve to fight terrorism, the Indian embassy said in a press release.
Several of them have written personal letters conveying that “Americans stand in solidarity with India’s people” in the face of these “cowardly” and “barbaric” acts of terror and expressed the “hope that the perpetrators would be brought to justice swiftly”.
Among those who have sent in messages of strong support are House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Representative Henry Waxman, Representative Steve Israel and Senator Joe Lieberman.
Messages of solidarity have come in from Jewish groups, the American Jewish Committee and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. US Chambers of Commerce and the US-India Business Council have strongly condemned the terrorist attacks and reaffirmed their support to the people of India.
Foreign Envoys in Washington, including the ambassadors of Israel, Russia and Sri Lanka have sent personal messages to Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen.
Numerous Indian-American groups and associations have condemned the “dastardly terror attacks” in Mumbai in the strongest possible terms and expressed deep gratitude to the thousands of Indian security personnel for their courageous and selfless service in fighting these well-planned and coordinated attacks.
They have noted “with a sense of great pride and satisfaction, that Indian citizens have by and large maintained harmony, understanding and resolve in the face of successive acts of terrorism”.
They have expressed concern at the involvement of foreign groups and urged the government of India to identify them and to deal with such threats in an effective manner.
Condemnation of the terror attacks and expressions of strong support for the people of India are continuing to flow in from individual members of the Indian-American community as well.
Many groups continue to hold prayer meetings across the US. There is unanimous expression of outrage at the attacks and repeated reiteration that their thoughts and prayers are with the people of India at this time.
There is a strong sense of anger coming across in the phone calls and messages being received with many saying they stand with India and its people and that “United States and all civilised nations of the world must root out and completely eradicate and destroy worldwide terrorism”, the embassy said.