Shocked over the Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh, President Pranab Mukherjee today said the nation will neither be overawed nor intimidated by such actions.
In his message, the President said, "I am deeply dismayed and shocked at the wanton violence unleashed by Maoists in Chhattisgarh on a convoy of vehicles carrying leaders of the Congress Party."
"I condemn this incident in the strongest of terms and would like to reiterate that violence has no place whatsoever in our democratic polity. The nation will neither be overawed nor intimidated by such action," he said.
Mukherjee called upon the authorities to do their utmost to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice.
While making it clear that the safety and security of the citizens should be ensured at all times, the President said, "I express my deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the incident and offer my prayers for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident."
In a separate message, Vice President Hamid Ansari said there was no place in civilised societies for such senseless and barbaric acts. "All forms of extremism and violence have to be fought and eliminated from out midst," he said in his message.
As many as 27 people were killed when Naxals attacked a convoy of Congress leaders at Dharbha Gati yesterday when they were returning from a rally.
