In the wake of the recent unconventional terror attacks in Mumbai, I as a vigilant citizen have started to introspect as to whether our political fraternity is indeed capable of being at the helm of power that it is currently enjoying. Instead of firm action and a definite modus operandi to deal with the ongoing crisis in Mumbai, the political leaders of our country have indulged in a series of emergency meetings absolutely ill-structured to deal with the chaos and mayhem at hand. Although the incident will be etched in the history of terrorist attacks as an unprecedented one, the whole episode will soon shrink to oblivion as Mumbaikars get back on track with their busy lives until another terror attack strikes some other part of the country.
It is indeed disgraceful to see the lackadaisical approach of our political leaders towards the same. The indifference and apathetic attitude of the Maharashtra State Government was evident at the press conference presided over by CM Vilasrao Deshmukh and Deputy CM RR Patil considering they were’nt even aware of the exact death toll of the national calamity which was being played live for over 60 hours across all the news channels on National Televsion, a number against the surge of which every Indian was praying and keeping track of by the minute.
The Indian Government’s revelation that they have evidence regarding involvement of the Pakistan and ISI in the terrorist attack is not going to bear any fruit by a proposal for collaboration and co-operation against terrorism to the Pakistan Government. The Central Government’s proposal to Pakistan makes me wonder if India hasn’t learnt from the mistakes of her past. Tones of terrorist attacks later, orchestrated by the ISI with the complete backing of the Pakistani Government, does the Centre really think they would be willing to collaborate against terrorism, their own flower-child. Big talks of mutual co-operation and support with other countries against terrorism or verbal condemnation of the act is not going to serve the purpose. If India is really willing to take a tough stance this time around, it must release the evidence in the international media, to the international communities and the UN, as well as to the countries whose nationals have been victimized in this terror attack. Pakistan can crumble or take elementary steps against breeding terrorism in their country only if there is pressure from countries across the globe, which should be the case as a large number of foreign nationals apart from Indians have been targeted.
At this moment of grief, when our city has been massacred, I’d like to ask the so-called sons-of-the-soil, the MNS: where are you guys hiding now? C’mon out and save your ‘Aamchi Mumbai’. The 350 NSG commandos that saved Mumbai were North Indians. Why should they lay their lives for the sake of Mumbai or its people? Where are your MNS goondas now? Are they only capable of doing Dadagiri on the streets, pelting stones and hurling abuses and lathis on poor innocent laborers or are they real men?
As India stands testimony to this horrific encounter, we must stand strong and sturdy against the onslaught of terrorism and communal disharmony that these anti-social elements are trying to provoke. Let us remember the lesson of harmony, brotherhood and fraternity advocated by the Constitution of India as we the citizens put up a united front against the evil called terrorism.
