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India Under Attack:WILL MUMBAI WAKE UP OUR NETAS?,By Poonam I Kaushish, 28 November 2008 Print E-mail

Political Diary

New Delhi, 28 November 2008

India Under Attack

WILL MUMBAI WAKE UP OUR NETAS?

By Poonam I Kaushish

How does one react when 10-odd terrorists hold a billion-plus nation to ransom? Adjectives are a plenty, unprecedented horror, a living nightmare, shock, dread and more. Feelings which have numbed the national psyche and scorched India’s soul. All cursing the Government and our polity. Which continues to wallow in the false belief that wars are games born in the minds of men--won peacefully by waving the white flag. A war can be won only by war!

Barely, two months since Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Delhi were attacked and two years after Mumbai went down the suburban railway in seven serial blasts, Maharashtra was once again rudely jolted by the icy harsh reality of terror, terror and still more terror on a placid Wednesday 26/11. No bomb blasts but terrorists using heavy duty guns including AK 47’s, MP5’s and grenades who came in from the sea and struck with deadly precision at 8 most high-profile and popular targets --- including the majestic Taj Hotel at Gateway and Oberoi at Nariman Point. Declaring a virtual war on the India State.

Exposing, once again the tragedy of our nascent democracy --- it had spun out of control. Importantly, the Mumbai dance of death is India’s 9/11 and 7/7. Forget the economic loss, the slaughter of the country’s intelligence apparatus, what to speak of the horrendously agonizing 62--hours’ plus wait for the friends and relatives (till the time of writing) and the confidence shaken. For the first time it has shaken the foundations of the country whereby we will never be the same again.

So different from the Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Surat, Gauwhati, Ahmedabad blasts for two reasons. One, it was live horror unfolding on our TV screens under world media glare. Two, foreigners were targets to proclaim to the world that global jehad had left its mark on the soft Indian State. At once putting the people on notice that we are not safe. Worse, we cannot do anything and have nowhere to hide. India is in the crosshairs of terrorists, serious and deadly terrorists. 

Our Government’s reaction?  VVIP after VVIP fell over one another in condemning the perpetrators ‘cowardly’ (sic) act. Followed by a series of high-profile appear-and-vanish visits to the city to profess their angst and, hopefully, extract political mileage. The Prime Minister called an emergency Cabinet meeting and repeated ad nauseum: “No one can make India kneel. We will win this war against terror.” Really? How? With more of the same. More army, more security and more promises to act. Nothing more, nothing less. Yawn, so predictable.

From Kargil to Mumbai, the story and comments have been heard before. But the moot point is who will bear the cross? Who will be held accountable? Why was there a delay of over 6 hours to send in the navy and NSG commandos? Importantly, are there any cohesive policies being formulated to combat terror and restore the confidence of the masses? To make them feel secure? Who will call a spade a spade? The nation wants answers to these questions and the politicians can ignore them only at their peril.

Clearly, our leaders have a lot to answer. Enough of excuses, heads must roll. Starting with the Union Home Minister, the National Security Advisor and our Intelligence Chiefs. All failed to piece together actionable intelligence. Especially against the backdrop that our security is handled by those who are opposed to the very tools to fight terror. Tough laws, harsh language and a policy of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Sadly, when security demands harsh measures our polity talks of political correctness. Read, restoring of faith of minorities.

Importantly if anyone should be held guilty for Mumbai’s terror, it should be none other than our self-obsessed polity. Just think. At any given day 60 per cent of the policemen in our Capital and elsewhere are busy guarding the 200-odd VVIPs under Z category security. Ironic isn’t it that our jan sevaks need protection from the very janta they profess to protect. Leaving the country and its people in the hands of God.

We spend massive amounts of monies guarding our netas but none spares a thought for the aam aadmi. Who will protect him? Plainly, the inability of our netagan to bring the situation under control shows how powerless we are. More than humiliation and sorrow, most Indians are ashamed and angry with our self-obsessed polity’s nautanki of false bravado and more fake promises. Not a few would take delight in throttling our jan sevaks to make them realize the cost of a human life.

True, there is no guarantee for life when faced by suicide squads. But do we give up without a fight? No. We need to set our priorities right. We need to be proactive not defensive. There should be zero tolerance against terror. Time has far gone for promises, political speeches and pulpy talk of pro-activeness. When push comes to shove one has to act. Not talk. Why are we still sitting over the hanging of Afzal Guru, the mastermind behind the attack on the country’s Parliament. He needed to be hanged –in full public glare. Thereby, sending a strong and much-needed signal to the terrorists. Enough is enough.

Significantly, the time to pussyfoot is far gone. The Prime Minister should match his words with action. The time has come to cross the border and bomb out the militants’ camps in Pakistan. Our leaders have to make a hard choice: Are they one with the aam aadmi or are they for themselves? No country with any sense of self-respect and national honour prostitutes its security at the alter of vote bank politics and watches it burn. New Delhi alone has to bare the cross.

Remember, when America was attacked it destroyed Afghanistan, the base of Osama bin Laden’s al Qaida. Again, to crush the militants in Pakistan’s North-West tribal belt, US forces intermittently continue to bomb the area to flush out the jehadis. The British too have left no stone unturned in their war against terror.

India needs to learn that this terror dance is just the beginning ---- worse will follow. We as a people need to come together, unite and collectively stop this nautanki called democracy or should one say feudal democracy and put India back on the rails. We need to kick out our self-serving netas and replace them with patriots and nationalists who put the country before self and who have the courage and conviction to protect the Indian State with all the will and might at their command. Who are willing to lay down their lives so that India can live. Any takers? ---- INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

 

 

 

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