[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1753]]
EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY WITH THE INDIAN PEOPLE IN THE WAKE OF THE MUMBAI 
                           TERRORIST BOMBINGS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. VITO FOSSELLA

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 19, 2006

  Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, on July 11, 2006 seven separate bombs were 
detonated throughout the train network in India's cultural capital, the 
city of Mumbai. More than 180 people were killed, and over 900 were 
injured. The bombs exploded simultaneously during the evening rush hour 
resulting in an entire shut down of the rail network which stranded 
hundreds of thousands of commuters. The terrorists may have hit a 
target with high practical and psychological impact, but I am confident 
that the people of India will again stand tall and not relent to such 
senseless and unfathomable violence.
  Following the attacks, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described 
the incidents as a ``shocking and cowardly attempt to spread a feeling 
of hatred.'' Even Pakistani leaders condemned the blasts as a 
``despicable act of terrorism.''
  The tragedy continued even after the bombing, with an eyewitness 
reporting that some of the dazed survivors who had jumped from the 
train after the blast were run over by another train coming in the 
opposite direction.
  Undoubtedly, the hospitals in Mumbai were swamped with casualties.
  Many parallels can be drawn between Mumbai and New York City. Mumbai 
is home to 17 million people, and is headquarters to many big Indian 
companies and foreign multinationals, with property prices among the 
most expensive in the world. Both Mumbai and New York have been 
attacked more than once by terrorists. In 1993 New York saw the first 
bombing of the World Trade Center, and in the same year 250 people were 
killed in Mumbai from bombings throughout the city.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing I would like to remind the people of India, 
as partners in a civilized world, America will not stand for senseless 
terrorism and together we can fight this evil until it no longer 
impedes the advancement of society.

                          ____________________