PM,Sonia review security in Mumbai after serial blasts

Strongly condemning the “barbaric” bomb blasts here,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said the perpetrators must be pursued relentlessly to bring them to justice quickly and promised the government will do everything in its power to prevent such attacks in future.

Singh,who arrived here to take stock of the situation,said he understood the “shock and outrage” of the people of Mumbai and “I share their pain,anguish and anger”.

He said he had announced ex-gratia payment of Rs two lakh each to the kin of those killed and Rs one lakh each to those injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

“I cannot find words to condemn the barbaric acts of terror that resulted in the senseless killing and injuring of innocent people in Mumbai yesterday,” Singh said in a statement as he arrived here accompanied by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

“I have come here in solidarity with the people of Mumbai,” he said while extending his “deepest condolences and sympathies to those who suffered in the terrible tragedy”.

Singh said he had asked Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to continue to coordinate their efforts and resources to “relentlessly pursue the perpetrators. They must be brought to justice quickly and be subject to the rule of law that they have sought to subvert.”

He sought the cooperation of all citizens in this effort,saying “we owe this” to the grieving families.

He also assured the people that “the government will do everything in its power to prevent such attacks in the future.”

It is the unity and strength of the people that will “defeat the efforts to divide our people and destroy our civilized way of life”,the Prime Minister said.

He contended the central government and the state government have acted quickly to deal with the situation arising out of yesterday’s blasts at three places here.

Singh said the need of the hour is to look after the medical and other immediate needs of the injured people.

“I have asked the state government to ensure that all support is provided so that these families can overcome the tragedy and rebuild their lives,” he said.

The Prime Minister has been monitoring the developments related to the blasts. He had spoken to Chidambaram and Chavan last night.