Advani for action group to handle grievances

Mumbai Train blasts

Saying that no worthwhile progress has been made in the investigation in 2006 Mumbai serial blasts case, leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani on Monday suggested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to order the formation of an empowered action group of senior officials from Railways, state governments and others to handle the grievances of victims of the terrorist strike, before August 15. "Your government’s inaction and silence can only be attributed to its inability and unwillingness to take the nation into confidence on the culprits and the conspiracy behind this terrorist act," Mr Advani wrote in his second letter to the Prime Minister.

He expressed "surprise" and "anguish" over no official function being organised by the Union or state governments to mark the first anniversary of the, undoubtedly, the most horrific terrorist act in India in recent years. Referring to home minister Shivraj Patil’s July 12, 2006, remarks that "the government has enough evidence of perpetrators of the blasts and would take stern action against the culprits and share all the information with the people at the appropriate time", Mr Advani said, "The people have a right to know from you and your home minister, what stern action has been taken against the culprits and what information about them have been shared with the nation."

Saying that the legal trial was yet to gain momentum at the MCOCA court against the culprits involved in the terrorist act, the former deputy-prime minister also maintained, "No efforts are being made to arrest the 15 absconding terrorists. No major efforts are being made by the MEA to identify and apprehend the foreign contacts behind the terrorist attack. In particular, no evidence has been shown and no representation made to Pakistan in this case."