In a direct attack on the anti-outsider campaign in Mumbai unleashed by the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said on Sunday that the perpetrators of the 26/11 terror attacks were liquidated due to collective efforts of the people from across the country.
Without naming Raj Thackeray, Gandhi said some people look at Mumbai, the large hearted great city, through their myopic eyes. "According to them, people from other states cannot come here to earn their livelihood with respect. I want to ask them just one question... who came to Mumbai to assist in the 26/11 operations to flush out the terrorists," she said.
Paying rich tributes to the spirit and culture of Mumbai, addressing a rally at Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority
ground in suburban Bandra, Gandhi said the city knows to smile by overcoming every adversity. "After 26/11, any other city would have taken a long time to recover and bounce back. But, Mumbai is different.
Yeh shehar kisi aur hi mitti ka bana hai. Ise Shivaji ka Naam hi nahi, balki himmat bhi mili hai,"( This city is made of something else, it hasn't just got its name but its courage as well) she said, adding that the entire world has now come to know who caused the terror attacks and the brave police officials of Mumbai have made this possible.
Describing Mumbai as the "Gateway to India", Gandhi said it is the favourite city of all Indians. "People from every state and region have made Mumbai their home and contributed their might to the progress and development of the city," she said.