26/11 - The Aftermath

A forward I got today read something like this:

“Do not worry about those who have come through boats,Our forces would defeat them. WORRY about those who have come through votes,Those are our REAL ENEMIES!

What a shame and disgrace to every citizen of India that the elite NSG Force moved in ordinary BEST buses, whereas our cricketers travel in state of the art luxury buses. These Jawans lay down their lives to protect every Indian and these cricketers get paid even if they lose a match, we worship these cricketers and forget the martyrdom of these brave Jawans after a candle show in their memories.

An ace shooter shoots and gets gold medal, Government gives 1cr, another shooter dies while shooting terrorist, Government gives 5 lakh.”

I don’t think lambasting cricketers is just here but the fact is that public outcry over the Mumbai attacks has assumed massive proportions. So much so that people have started to react openly to the statements made by the politicians. It is probably the first time that India has seen an open public debate where politicians are made to listen and not speak for a change. I was watching Barkha Dutt’s show the other day on TV and she said that no politician agreed to come to her show as they feared public outrage on live television. In the past three days we have seen ministers lose their positions due to the growing public ire. Thank God its happening!

People are out on the streets asking about the whereabouts of the protector of Marathi Asmita, the Home Minister who loves changing his attire every two hours and a prime minister in waiting who didn’t go for an all party meeting so that he could attend to his political campaigns. What this outburst has caused is that it has left the ‘leaders’ running for cover and passing uncalled for statements in retaliation. Naqvi’s lipstick gaffe, Kerela CM getting shown the door and then retaliating with a dog will not come here are indications of the changing times. Thank God, the politicians are getting it back in plenty!

It’s a shame that 5 days after the fateful 26/11, we are still left fending for answers. What has followed on a strategic and diplomatic front has been a complete disaster. Other than the usual “stern” statements and an “appeal for calm”, there has hardly been a step forward. Resignation of a few ministers is not the solution, its just washing off your hands from taking up collective responsibility and I feel sorry for the ruling party. Sorry because the opposition would have been in the exact same position had it been in power.

The lone terrorist who was caught was carrying an AK-47 and loads of ammunitions. The people who caught him had lathis and pistols in their hands. The bullet proof jacket that Karkare was wearing failed all safety tests against attacks by arms such as AK-47 back in 2004. Probably this was the reason why Salaskar and Amte did not care to wear the heavy jacket that fateful night knowing very well that it was of no use. The NSG commandoes arrived 9 hours after the mayhem started because they had to wait for an aircraft that flew from Chandigarh and travelled slow. Doesn’t the Government have money to strengthen its forces? Well then from where do these CMs get themselves dedicated choppers to travel, conduct conferences in plush five-star hotels and walk with an entire platoon of black cat commandoes citing death threats?

It is time people took to civil disobedience movement once again and stopped paying taxes until a plan was laid out and explained to the nation on how the Government aims to provide security to the citizens. True, the system is rotten. The politicians milk it the way they want to. It is time people did it too. Let us all pressurize the powerful to submit.

For long we have heard about the resilience of people. Why should they face the brunt of the attack day in and day out and then ‘bounce back’ to cover up for someone’s ineptness in delivering the goods? The mood of the nation and the need of the hour are very well summed up in the lines penned by Prasoon Joshi following the Mumbai terror attacks:

"Is baar jab woh chhoti si bachchi mere paas apni kharonch le kar aayegi
Main usey phoo phoo kar nahin behlaoonga
Panapney doonga uski tees ko
Is baar nahin

Is baar jab main chehron par dard likha dekhoonga
Nahin gaoonga geet peeda bhula dene wale
Dard ko risney doonga,utarney doonga andar gehrey
Is baar nahin

Is baar main na marham lagaoonga
Na hi uthaoonga rui ke phahey
Aur na hi kahoonga ki tum aankein band karlo,
gardan udhar kar lo main dawa lagata hoon
Dekhney doonga sabko hum sabko khuley nangey ghaav
Is baar nahin

Is baar jab uljhaney dekhoonga,chatpatahat dekhoonga
Nahin daudoonga uljhee door lapetney
Uljhaney doonga jab tak ulajh sake
Is baar nahin

Is baar karm ka hawala de kar nahin uthaoonga auzaar
Nahin karoonga phir se ek nayee shuruaat
Nahin banoonga misaal ek karmyogi ki
Nahin aaney doonga zindagi ko aasani se patri par
Utarney doonga usey keechad main,tedhey medhey raston pe
Nahin sookhney doonga deewaron par laga khoon
Halka nahin padney doonga uska rang
Is baar nahin banney doonga usey itna laachaar
Ki paan ki peek aur khoon ka fark hi khatm ho jaye
Is baar nahin

Is baar ghawon ko dekhna hai
Gaur seThoda lambe wakt tak
Kuch faisleyAur uskey baad hausley
Kahin toh shuruat karni hi hogi
Is baar yahi tay kiya hai "

Have a look at these pictures that tell the tale. Don’t they say that a picture tells you what a thousand words cannot!

Mumbai Terror through the camera lens!