New Delhi: Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal Friday said that the government had never imagined such a massive terrorist attack would take place in Mumbai, but added that it was "not the time for blame game".

"We never imagined that this sort of infiltration will take place at such a meticulous fashion. There must be accountability at all levels," Sibal told reporters at his residence.

He added: "We will analyse all these things after flushing out the terrorists. This is not the time for the blame game.

"Who did it? Whose conspiracy? Whether there is a big conspiracy behind it? what is the motive? It will be revealed only after the investigation."

The minister said: "I'm not in a position to tell who is behind it. We must deal with it. Security of the people must be top agenda of all the political parties."

Alleging that the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to convert the human tragedy to political benefit, Sibal said the Congress had never criticised any state government for terror attacks that had taken place.

"We stood with the government when Akshardham (temple in Gujarat) was attacked," Sibal said.

BJP's prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi have made "strange and unusual statements that lack not just maturity, but national committment", he said.

Advani Thursday criticised the Maharashtra government for failing to gather intelligence to foil the planned and synchronised terrorist attacks.

Modi, who visited the three places where security forces were fighting terrorists, announced a compensation of Rs.10 million for the security and police officials who had died in the attacks.

"It is not the time for assessing and analysing what is happening in Mumbai. But unfortunately, this human tragedy has been turned into a political opportunity to attack the government by the opposition," Sibal said.

"Desire for position should not be above the national interest," he added.

He also suggested a three-pronged strategy to counter the menace of terrorism in the long term - massive monetary investment, large-scale human resources investment and technological upgradation.

 

Source : ians