India reacts with shock and horror to Bhutto's killing
New Delhi (PTI): India reacted with shock and horror to the assassination of Pakistan's Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeing it as a reminder of common danger of terrorism.
Paying tributes to the former Pakistan Prime Minister, India described her as a "brave and outstanding" woman leader of the sub-continent who contributed to the improvement of the bilateral relations.
"The manner of her going is a reminder of the common dangers that our region faces from cowardly acts of terrorism and of the need to eradicate this dangerous threat," Singh said in a statement from Goa.
He said he was "deeply shocked and horrified to hear of the heinous assassination" of Bhutto, in whose death, the people of Pakistan have suffered a "grievous blow".
Singh said Bhutto was "no ordinary political leader, but one who left a deep imprint on her time and age."
President Pratibha Patil said the assassination was "a tragedy not just for Pakistan but the entire region" and people of India stood with the people of the neighbouring country in the hour of grief.
She said the incident "underscores the menace that terrorism poses to us and to the stability of our society."
Describing Bhutto as a "brave and outstanding woman leader of the sub-continent", External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said it was "tragic" that she should "fall to a barbarous terrorist attack."
It should "strengthen our resolve to fight this scourge of terrorism", said Mukherjee in a statement from Kolkata before cutting short his visit to return to Delhi in the wake of the development.
"Bhutto's contributions to democracy, to the improvement of India-Pakistan relations and to restoration of normalcy within Pakistan will be an inspiration," the External Affairs Minister said.
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee termed the assassination as a "big jolt" to the democracy and civilised society.
"It has become a big challenge for democracy and peace-loving society and we have to fight it out together," he said.
