Writing to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the second time in July, Leader of the Opposition L K Advani demanded a “time-bound probe” into the Mumbai train blasts of 2006 and accused the Government of apathy in the treatment of victims. Advani said the Government has made no significant progress in the probe into the serial blasts that killed 187 people.

Advani expressed “surprise and anguish” that no official function was held by the Government to “mark the first anniversary of what was undoubtedly the most horrific terrorist act in India in recent years”.

“Kindly contrast this apathy and silence on the part of the Government of India with the manner in which the United States commemorated the first anniversary of 9/11,” he wrote. Advani said the Maharashtra Government was also extremely slow in payment of ex-gratia compensation.

Advani reminded the PM of Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil’s remarks last year that there was “enough evidence” about the perpetrators of the blasts and that the information would be shared with the people at an appropriate time.

“The people expect an answer from your government to two burning questions about 11/7, which evil mind was behind this barbaric act of terrorism, and what are its foreign and domestic links? How soon will the conspiracy be busted and justice meted out to the culprits?” Advani asked. In his letter to Singh, the BJP leader charged the Centre with inability and reluctance to share with the country the information related to the bomb attacks last year.

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