A large number of eminent personalities from the world of cinema, music and literature along with political leaders and school children came together for the “Nation in solidarity against terror” event at the India Gate lawns here on Sunday.
Organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the event marked the first anniversary of the final day of the siege of Mumbai that ended on November 29 last year. Hosted by actor-activist Nandita Das and directed by Feroz Abbas Khan, the message was loud and clear: “Terror has no religion. Our solidarity, courage and resoluteness are the answer to the threat of terror.”
Also present at the function were Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, actor Shah Rukh Khan, lyricist Javed Akhtar, journalist Shekhar Gupta, shooter Abhinav Bindra and tennis player Sania Mirza.
Singers Shreya Ghosal, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Shankar Mahadevan and violinist Dr. L. Subramaniam performed in a symbolic gesture to share the message of solidarity, courage and resolve to stand up against terrorist violence.
Shah Rukh Khan said: “No one can have two viewpoints about terrorism. There is no religion of terrorism. Indian civilisation does not distinguish in terms of religion. We are an impossible achievement in the world and I’m very proud to be an Indian.”
One-minute silence
A huge collage of pictures of the people who lost their lives during 26/11 was unveiled in the beginning of the event and a one-minute silence was also observed in their memory.
The event was aired live to millions of homes in India and abroad.
