US stands with India in its quest for justice for 26/11: Trump
Washington, Nov 27 : On the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terrorist attack, President Donald Trump Monday said that the United States stands with the people of India in their quest for justice.
In the barbaric attack unleashed on November 26, 2008 by 10 LeT terrorists from Pakistan, 166 people, six of whom were US nationals, were killed.
"On the ten-year anniversary of the Mumbai terror attack, the U.S. stands with the people of India in their quest for justice," Trump tweeted.
"The attack killed 166 innocents, including six Americans. We will never let terrorists win, or even come close to winning!" he said.
Kia Scherr, whose husband and a 13-year-old daughter were killed in the attack, thanked the president for his tweet. "May this day serve to remind us that love overpowers hate. This is the strength no bullet can kill. This is our true power. Thank you," she said.
At a solemn event "in memory of the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks" at the Indian Embassy here, a top American counterterrorism official called on Pakistan to bring LeT operatives and other terrorists to justice.
"We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to do their parts in bringing the perpetrators to justice. All countries must uphold their international obligations to take action against this UN sanctioned terrorist group and its leaders," said Nathan Sales, State Department's coordinator for counterterrorism in his brief remark.
Noting that a day earlier, the State Department had announced to offer up to USD5 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction to anyone who committed or assisted the horrific attacks, Sales said, "With this, we remind the world that we have not forgotten those who perished 10 years ago and we will not rest until the perpetrators are brought to justice."
It is an absolute affront to the victims of Mumbai and to their families who grieve them to this day, that after 10 years, those who planned these despicable acts have still not been convicted for their crimes, Sales said, echoing the statement of the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a day earlier.
"Our citizens died together. So we must all work together to end the scourge of terrorism. We must prevent the terrorists who committed this act of barbarism, LeT from ever threatening our people again," Sales said as he warned the terrorist group and its leaders that the US will go after them wherever they are.
In his remarks, the Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Singh Sarna, paid tributes to the innocent lives lost during these attacks which included Indians and citizens from 14 other countries, including those from the United States.
He condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and urged the international community to call upon Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of this heinous terrorist attacks to justice.
Sarna thanked the State Department for instituting a "Rewards for Justice" programme announcing a bounty for any information leading to arrest or conviction of any individual involved in planning or facilitating the attacks.
To honour the memory of the victims, a moment of silence was observed by the attendees followed by lighting of candles. Extracts from an article written on this occasion by Kia Scherr, the co-founder of a charity 'One Life Alliance' and a family member of US victims in this tragedy, was also read out.
The event concluded with the screening of HBO documentary on 26/11 Mumbai attacks, titled 'Terror in Mumbai'.
The event among others was attended by Basant Sanghera and Jennifer Whethey, Director in the US National Security Council at the White House.
Rabbi Levi Shemstov, Executive Vice President, American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) recounted his personal encounter of the events of the day 10 years ago, when he desperately tried to save his friends and colleagues in Mumbai and talked with one of the terrorists over phone.
In a separate statement, Congressman Eliot L Engel, Ranking Member of the powerful House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said 10 years ago, the world watched in real time as a horrific terrorist attack unfolded over the course of 60 hours in Mumbai.
"I join the friends and families in remembering the 166 victims, including the six American citizens killed during the attack, and I stand in solidarity with the people of India who have demonstrated their resilience in the face of such violence," he said.
"It remains imperative, as it was 10 years ago, to bring the perpetrators of such heinous and senseless violence to account," said Engel, who in all probability will be the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee next year.
"10 years ago the people of Indian fell victim to a heinous terrorist attack in Mumbai. Today we remember the victims and stand with India in the fight to end violent Islamist extremism," Congressman Ted Yoho said in a tweet.
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IPL 2026 auction to feature 350 players including 240 Indians; Quinton de Kock late addition
Mumbai (PTI): A total of 350 cricketers, including 240 Indians, will go under the hammer in the IPL auction to take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16, with South Africa's comeback man Quinton de Kock a surprise late addition to the final list.
Wicketkeeper-batter De Kock, who recently came out of his ODI retirement, has been kept at a base price of Rs 1 crore. The list also includes Australia batter Steve Smith at a base price of Rs 2 crore. Smith last played in the IPL in 2021.
A total of 1,390 players registered for the Player Auction. The number was pruned to 1,005 players before 350 were finally shortlisted to battle for 77 slots available including 31 for overseas players, across the 10 teams for the 19th edition of the world’s biggest T20 league.
The first set of players in the auction includes India and Mumbai batters Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan, who both have kept their base price at Rs 75 lakh each. Shaw had a regular run in the IPL from 2018 to 2024 but had gone unsold in the auction for the last edition, whereas Sarfaraz has not played in the competition since 2021.
The list shared by the IPL features two Australians in Cameron Green and Jake Fraser-McGurk, along with New Zealand and former Chennai Super Kings opener Devon Conway and South Africa’s David Miller, with each of them keeping a base price of Rs 2 crore.
Venkatesh Iyer, who was released by Kolkata Knight Riders, has listed himself at a base price of Rs 2 crore. Among domestic players, Kunal Chandela and Ashok Kumar, who are among the leading run-getters and wicket-takers respectively in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, are also in the final list.
Three-time winners KKR will go into the auction with the biggest purse of Rs 64.3 crores, followed by five-time champions CSK with Rs 43.4 crores. Sunrisers Hyderabad, who have won the IPL once, have the third highest purse of Rs 25.5 crores.
As many as 21 England players feature in the list, including wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith, pacer Gus Atkinson, Liam Livingstone and Test opener Ben Duckett.
Green, expected to garner a lot of attention in this auction, leads the list of 19 Australians, with Josh Inglis, Matthew Short, Cooper Connolly and Beau Webster being the other prominent names.
De Kock and Miller are among the 15 Proteas players in the IPL auction, along with fast bowlers Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Gerald Coetzee and all-rounder Wiaan Mulder.
Fast bowlers Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph, Ackeem Auguste, Shai Hope and Roston Chase are among the nine players from the West Indies in the auction.
Sri Lankan spinners Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana and Traveen Matthew will be among the dozen players from the island nation in the auction, along with Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera.
Conway and Rachin Ravindra, who were released by CSK, are among the 16 New Zealand players in the auction.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Naveen ul Haq feature in the list of 10 players from Afghanistan.
