In a rejection of Pakistan's contention that independent actors were behind the Mumbai [Images] attack, President Pratibha Patil [Images] today said such arguments cannot be accepted as she asked the international community to take "decisive" action to fight terrorism.
 
"No country can afford to take an ambivalent attitude in this fight. Arguments that terrorism is being perpetuated by independent actors are self-defeating and cannot be accepted," Patil said without naming Pakistan in her address on the eve of the 60th Republic Day.
 
Pakistan has washed its hands off any involvement in the Mumbai terror attack insisting that those behind it were non-state actors and that the official agencies had no role in it.
 
Countries must own up their responsibilities in defeating terrorism, she said while asking the international community to take "decisive and united" action to combat terrorism, which poses a grave threat to the stability of the world.
 
In her speech, Patil also spoke about the slow down of the global economy triggered by the action of some credit and
banking institutions and profiled the need for stronger corporate governance.
       
"There must be clear principles of accountability when such losses take place," she said in an apparent reference to
to the over Rs 7,000-crore Satyam [Get Quote] fraud.  

The President said the concerted and well-planned attack in Mumbai in November stood out as an example of a ruthless operation undertaken to damage the confidence of India.
 
"The nation was outraged. However, contrary to what the terrorists had hoped, the event saw the emergence of a
unified and strong voice from India," she said.
 
The President noted that India is located in a region which "harbours the epicentre of terrorism" and has been a victim of the menace over the last two decades.
 
Over the last one year, terrorism and violence, natural disasters, volatility in oil and food prices besides the global meltdown had tested the inherent success and highlighted the need for monitoring and response mechanisms, she stressed.
 
Referring to the measures being taken recently to secure the nation against terrorist and fundamentalist elements, Patil said the government has put in place a new agency to deal with such threats and has also brought in legislative changes.
 
She said a determined, coordinated and concerted approach by all agencies to tackle this menace was necessary.
 
Asking citizens and media to be part of this security network, she said this entailed "responsible behaviour in which we are aware of our surroundings, and do not inadvertently create an atmosphere of fear or insecurity".
   
The elections that were held after the Mumbai attack to the legislative assemblies in some states, including Jammu and Kashmir [Images], had seen a large voter turnout thereby reaffirming the faith of the people in a democratic polity, Patil said.

Asking the people to fight divisive agendas, the President said they should work for an India "in which our first identity is Indian".
 
"We cannot give in to regional, sectarian or caste considerations," she said contending that these concepts militate against the very principle chosen to be followed in the journey as a free nation.
 
Referring to the economic meltdown, Patil said the need for strengthening the oversight mechanism for financial institutions and for transparent rules was being acutely felt.  "Some companies that over-extended or functioned in an
unethical manner have caused losses to share holders. Such incidents profile the need for stronger corporate governance.

There must be clear principles of accountability when such losses take place," she said.
 
Seeking greater international cooperation for evolving more credible and viable financial structure, Patil said the instances of financial imprudence, which can put global welfare at jeopardy, could not be allowed to happen again.
 
The President also underscored the need to address gender bias which has resulted in social malpractices like female foeticide, dowry, child marriage and other evils. With a view to make society sensitive towards the girl child, the National Girl Child Day is being celebrated on January 24 from this year, Patil said.
 
Making a mention of the nuclear civil cooperation agreement with the US, she said it had made India a participant in the international regime for nuclear energy.
 
Emphasising that technology should be used to counter terrorist threat to the nation, she said "we should be far ahead of the terrorists who are increasingly using sophisticated technology to carry out their violent agenda".