UN SECRETARY GENERAL PAYS TRIBUTE TO MUMBAI TERROR ATTACK VICTIMS

On the first day of his three-day visit to India, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will pay respect to the victims of the terrorist attacks on November 26 at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai.

It will be Guterres' first trip to India since the start of his second tenure as secretary-general in January. In October 2018 during his first tenure in the position of power, he had previously been to the nation.

Eknath Shinde, the chief minister of Maharashtra, and Devendra Fadnavis, the deputy chief minister, were present when Mr Guterres laid a floral wreath at the hotel's 26/11 attacks monument. “Warm welcome to the UNSG @antonioguterres as he arrives in Mumbai for his official visit to India from 18-20 October 2022," tweeted Arindam Bagchi, Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.

“Terrorism is absolute evil. There are no reasons, no pretexts, no causes, and no grievances that can justify terrorism. Terrorism is absolute evil and terrorism has no room in today’s world”, He addressed a small group that included the chief minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde, and Ruchira Kamboj, India's representative to the UN.

Guterres expressed gratitude to the Indian government for backing all UN efforts to combat terrorism and said: May I end with the same words that I have started – terrorism is absolute evil. It is the duty of all of us to fight it without any kind of hesitation.”