PM Modi vows befitting reply to terror groups as India remembers 26/11 Mumbai attack victims

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Nov 26 promised a ‘befitting reply’ to every terror group challenging the security of the country.

“We cannot forget that today is also the anniversary of the terror attack in Mumbai. Those who lost their lives, I pay my homage to them.” the prime minister said during his address on Constitution Day at the Supreme Court.

“I also want to reiterate the resolution of the country - all those terrorist organizations challenging the security of India will get a befitting reply,” he added.

On this day in 2008, 10 Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists from Pakistan entered Mumbai via sea and carried out coordinated attacks across multiple high-profile locations, including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, CST Railway Station, and Nariman House. As many as 166 people lost their lives and over 300 were injured in the biggest terror attack on Indian soil.

During his address, Modi invoked the Emergency proclaimed in 1975.

“We have seen the Emergency in the country - our Constitution has faced this challenge that arose before democracy. It's the power of the constitution, that today, in Jammu & Kashmir, Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution is fully implemented. Today, for the first time, Constitution Day is celebrated there (in J&K),” he said.

He said, "Today it looks easy that people have access to tap water, but even after 75 years of independence, only 3 crore houses had this facility... in the original copy of the constitution, lord Ram, mother Sita...have their images in it."

“The images symbolizing Indian culture are there so that they can keep us reminded about human values. These human values are the foundation of policies and decisions of today's India,” he added.

Modi said the sentiment of 'nation first' will keep the Constitution alive for many centuries.