Mumbai stops as Kalam leads people in paying homage to blast victims

Mumbai, July 18 (UNI) At the stroke of 18:25 hrs today, Mumbai came to a grinding halt for two minutes as President A P J Abdul Kalam led the citizens in paying homage to those who had sacrificed their lives in the barbaric 7/11 serial train blasts.

Earlier, the President urged the industry to come forward and join a national campaign to eliminate the menace of terrorism completely from the nation.

At yet another function, the President exhorted students to chose development politics as a carrer option stating that the prevailing trend of ''political politics'' was not good.

Dr Kalam observed a two-minute silence along with Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Governor S M Krishna, Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil and HRD Minister Arjun Singh and other officials at the Mahim railway station after unveiling a plaque and placing a wreath at exactly 18:25 hrs. Incidentally, the first of the seven blasts that had rocked the metropolis on July 11, had occurred at 18:24 hrs.

Elsewhere, the city came to a grinding halt for two minutes as people came out in large numbers and stood silently for two minutes at the appointed time. Suburban trains, the BEST buses and even private vehicles stopped for two minutes to pay homage to the blast victims.

Earlier, while inaugurating the centenary celebrations of the Indian Merchants Chamber (IMC) here, the President urged the industrial community to come forward and join a national campaign to eradicate the menace of terrorism completely.

Earlier in the day, Dr Kalam inaugurated the sesquicentennial (150th) celebrations of Mumbai University here and interacted with the students.

Speaking to the students on the occasion, the President told them, ''You have to excel in education first and then can choose politics as a career. What is happening now is more of 'political politics', which is not good.'' MORE UNI TEAM MAZ YA HT2147