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)
|