New Delhi- Thousands of Indians participated in massive protest rallies in major cities Wednesday to mark one week since the terrorist attacks that killed at least 171 people in the financial hub of Mumbai. Amid growing public outrage over the audacious attacks, hundreds of people including children and senior citizens gathered at Mumbai's Gateway of India monument, near the iconic Taj Hotel that was partially destroyed by the terrorists, the PTI news agency reported.
The people mourned the death of victims and martyrs and demanded security. Many shouted slogans against Pakistan as Indian security agencies have blamed a militant group based in Pakistan for the attacks.
"Security is essential for common people who are paying taxes. Personnel deployed to protect politicians who cannot save people and the country should be withdrawn immediately," a Mumbai resident Viren Shah told the PTI.
"Time has come for people to wake up and expose the politicians," he said.
A total of 171 people were killed and more than 300 injured as terrorists laid siege to the city shortly after 9 pm on November 26. The attackers targeted the city's main railway station, a hospital, a Jewish centre and the Taj and Oberoi-Trident luxury hotels.
The standoff between the security forces and terrorists ended almost 60 hours later, when commandos killed three militants inside the Taj hotel Saturday morning.
In New Delhi, a rally was held at the Central Park in the business district of Connaught Place. A candlelight vigil was also held near the Great India Palace mall in the Delhi suburb of Noida.
Scores of locals also participated in the southern city of Hyderabad, including a tribute to slain officers at the city's War Memorial, the news channel reported.
Demonstrations were also held in the southern metropolis of Chennai, the eastern city of Kolkata and the country's technology hub of Bangalore.
Some commuters at Mumbai's central railway station Wednesday blamed government security forces for poor intelligence and planning to prevent the attack.
"The politicians should stop passing the buck," a commuter named Tanuj told NDTV. "Mere resignations of politicians wouldn't help. Some one has to stand up and take accountability. Its gone too far."
"People cannot stop going to work. We do not have any choice," another commuter said. "If we stop going to work it will only support the designs of the terrorists."
