By IANS,
New Delhi : Zero tolerance is the only answer to terrorism, the Congress party said Saturday in the aftermath of the Mumbai terrorist attacks, calling upon Pakistan to honour its promise not to let its territory be used for such strikes against India.
Zero tolerance is the only answer to terrorism, the Congress Working Committee, the party’s highest decision-making group, said in a resolution at its Saturday night meeting here, hours after the terror strike in Mumbai was put an end to.
The country’s main ruling party also reiterated its resolve to give a “fitting and hard-hitting reply” to terrorists who dare to challenge the sovereignty of the nation, party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters after the meeting.
The meeting, held at party president Sonia Gandhi’s residence, was also attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh among others.
The Congress called upon Pakistan to honour its commitment not to allow the use of its territory for acts of terrorism against India, following reports that the terrorists who struck in south Mumbai late Wednesday had come from Pakistan using sea route.
The Congress also urged the Manmohan Singh government to take immediate and concrete action to revamp the security set-up to make it more responsive and to ensure that such incidents of terror are pre-empted and prevented, Dwivedi said.
The Congress said India must respond unitedly and in a resolute manner to meet such challenges.
Without referring to the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), it criticised “the political parties playing divisive politics” for politicising such tragedies.
The terrorists, numbering at least 11, sneaked into Mumbai late Wednesday and attacked people at 10 places. At three spots, they also took hostages who were rescued only Saturday morning. At least 183 people have been killed and 239 have been left injured.