Power to the people
India is shocked, numbed and outraged for being taken lightly not only by the terrorists but also by its so called leadership and the past one week of media anger though justified at times has brought us to a juncture where we need to ask some serious questions as Indians. At this point I feel we Indians might lose democracy itself if things continue to be the same.
First set of questions to the Parliamentarians and our Honourable Prime Minister:
Sir, apart from making a passing remark of setting up a Federal Intelligence Service on the lines of FBI what other redressal mechanisms are bring set up by the Government to protect it's citizens? As we are all aware even a written letter of suspicion by the fishermen's association is not taken seriously as they are mere fishermen and not worthy of anyone's notice, but Indian citizen and more importantly the voters demand a redressal system. When we see a suspicious activity and inform it to the authorities it needs to be looked into, please understand we are not dispensable. And talk to us.
To our Home Minister:
Sir, it has been over 48 hours that you have taken charge and your competency levels are unquestionable but we as Indians today need to see some confidence, so please talk to us. Tell us how you are going to make us feel us 'safe' once more in a democracy and please don't give us the standard answer of things being "complicated" because we are aware of that and hence we believe in five year plans. But what India needs today are some sharp redressal mechanisms and please inform Indians about that.
To Madam Sonia Gandhi:
Madam, please do us a favour and remove Vilasrao Deshmukh from his office immediately and for once appoint someone competent whose competency should be the only criterion and not his caste, creed or colour. For once do stand up for what you vouch for, 'secularism'. India have had had enough of empty words for much too long please do not insult us any further.
To the Media:
Electronic media did give us blow-by-blow account of the Mumbai terror attacks, you did show us how valiantly we fought, how angry we were and how insensitive our executive is. Accolades for that but a request please do not carry on bringing articulate celebrities to the shows but ask hard questions to the politicians, the country needs those answers from them, make them accountable. Please do not cover the irresponsible fringe media activity from across the border as it is the situation is tense we do not need a full escalation. Media needs to be in the driver's seat but it needs to know what is the destination.
To Mumbaikars
All Indians mourn for everyone in Mumbai. All the innocent lives lost at CST, CAMA Hospital, Ville Parle, Taj, Oberoi, Trident, Cafe Leopold, Nariman House. Every one is in shock and praying every moment. But Mumbai please show your united front in removing the incompetent Chief Minister immediately. You can definitely demand the same, you had elected the government so please take charge and remove the most insensitive and callous CM of the state of Maharashtra.
To the people of India:
Last but not the least. We the people of India need to stand united against all the possible divisive forces working against us in these trying times and channelise our anger in making positive changes in our day-to-day lives. If we see anything suspicious let us not ignore it, let us inform it to the nearest police patrol; let us report the corrupt people who might be very dangerous for our security; let us boycott sensational media who purport divisiveness to gain TRPs; let us remember the valiant policemen, army soldiers who gave their lives to protect us; but above all let not India forgive politicians such as Mr. Shivraj Patil, Mr Achutanandan, Mr. R.R. Patil, Mr. M. A. Naqvi who do not have the slightest of the human values. Let not India forgive them ever.
Comments
How do you sleep at night, you irresponsible lot, whose hands are stained with more blood then the all of these 10 terrorists combined? Media reports that it is "shocking" that the terrorist caught showed no remorse. Well I am "shocked" that our political leaders have no remorse either.
Why is it that the leaders of a country that fought for its freedom with blood, now seems to feel nothing for their people? It is all about money and power and greed isn't it? I find myself wishing that Hell does exist and one day all of this people will end up there.
In the midst of all this blood-shed, the feature that is attracting most of MY attention is the fact that there have been terror-attacks and terror-attacks in the past, Lajpat Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, Godhra, Nandigram... the list is unending... and yet, THIS TIME, when the attacks have affected the richest, and therefore the most PROMINENT sections of society the most, the furor is so all encompassing!
The usual response to all of this by the 'rulers' have been to look for more and more POLITICAL MILEAGE - but for a CHANGE, this time the so-called 'educated' section of society seems to be awaking from their dream... at LONG LAST!
Let us MAKE the politicians do their duties and SERVE the interests of the Nation, instead of bleeding it dry with their greed and egoism!
Cheers... to the AWAKENING!
I have recently received a set of very interesting mails from two different friends - I thought all of you would enjoy reading these - so, I am pasting them here.
The first one, I think, puts up a very real proposition, supporting your fear...
(1)
I liked what I saw - the very real, the raw, the naïve anger and innocent outrage on the faces of people on the streets of Mumbai. This anger is not merely about the audacity of a few youngsters who devastated the 'spirit' of a city, it is more a direct statement to the politicians that says, 'we will deal with militants later, you are the menace, we have happily and collectively reached our own point of 'zero tolerance''. What hurts day in and day out is not only their incompetence but their shameless greed and gluttony for power, the way they hold on to it like the last straw of a dying man. What hurts is their complete cynicism, the way they make a mockery of democracy, the way they embarrass us in the seasonal circus that we know as 'parliament sessions'. I liked the way the Muslims came out in large numbers to vent their frustrations. It's easy to say that they did so because they feel threatened as a community. False. It's the politicians who feel insecure today. See how, across all party lines, they herd together and cling on to each other. Their existence as a class is now cornered. They are scared of this urban middle-class anger and so they ought to be. This anger needs leadership now.
The politicians should not be complacent about the fact that this cosmopolitan youth is merely an ignore-worthy fraction of the vote-bank. They trust the quantity of the marginal, the rural, who are too hungry to be angry, too busy surviving to worry about foreign guests in heritage buildings. To them their leaders are probably gods and gods cannot be accountable. They are the typically fatalist Indians. They have a hand to vote but they do not have a voice. But when they do hear the voice of redress somewhere, they recognize the new and worthier god and they stand and stare, mesmerized. They follow and form the crowds much like the children of Hamlin, who did not have a choice once the Pied Piper started playing his flute.
The inertia of the middle-class is a sign of decadence. But when the same middle-class shakes itself free from its own couch-shadow, it signals rejuvenation. Politicians have every reason to be terrified. It's good to see some healthy terror on their smug faces. They know that the gathering in front of the Gateway of India was not mobilized by a political party. They know that the people there were not just faceless numbers. There was a fire in each heart, a fire to burn the structures of hypocrisy. The politicians will only hope for the fire to burn itself out. We need a leader to turn it into a bonfire.
(2)
LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER
Dear Mr. Prime minister
I am a typical mouse from Mumbai. In the local train compartment which
has capacity of 100 persons, I travel with 500 more mouse. Mouse at
least squeak but we don't even do that.
Today I heard your speech. In which you said 'NO BODY WOULD BE SPARED'.
I would like to remind you that fourteen years has passed since serial
bomb blast in Mumbai took place. Dawood was the main conspirator. Till
today he is not caught. All our bolywood actors, our builders, our Gutka
king meets him but your Government can not catch him. Reason is simple;
all your ministers are hand in glove with him. If any attempt is made to
catch him everybody will be exposed. Your statement 'NOBODY WOULD BE
SPARED' is nothing but a cruel joke on this unfortunate people of India.
Enough is enough. As such after seeing terrorist attack carried out by
about a dozen young boys I realize that if same thing continues days are
not away when terrorist will attack by air, destroy our nuclear reactor
and there will be one more Hiroshima.
We the people are left with only one mantra. Womb to Bomb to Tomb. You
promised Mumbaikar Shanghai what you have given us is Jalianwala Baug.
Today only your home minister resigned. What took you so long to kick
out this joker? Only reason was that he was loyal to Gandhi family.
Loyalty to Gandhi family is more important than blood of innocent
people, isn't it?
I am born and bought up in Mumbai for last fifty eight years. Believe me
corruption in Maharashtra is worse than that in Bihar. Look at all the
politicians, Sharad Pawar, Chagan Bhujbal, Narayan Rane, Bal Thackeray ,
Gopinath Munde, Raj Thackray, Vilasrao Deshmukh all are rolling in
money. Vilasrao Deshmukh is one of the worst Chief ministers I have
seen. His only business is to increase the FSI every other day, make
money and send it to Delhi so Congress can fight next election. Now the
clown has found new way and will increase FSI for fisherman so they can
build concrete house right on the sea shore. Next time the terrorists can
comfortably live in those houses ,enjoy the beauty of our seas and then
attack the Mumbai at their will.
Recently I had to purchase a house in Mumbai. I met about two dozen
builders. Everybody wanted about 30% in black. A common person like me
knows this and with all your intelligent agency & CBI you and your
finance minister are not aware of it. Where does all the black money goes?
To the underworld isn't it? Our politicians take help of these goondas to
vacate people by force. I myself was victim of it. If you have time
please come to me, I will tell you everything.
If this has been land of fools and idiots then I would not have ever cared
to write you this letter. Just see the tragedy, on one side we are
reaching the moon, people are so intelligent and on other side you
politician have converted nectar into deadly poison. I am everything
Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Schedule caste, OBC, Muslim OBC, Christian
Schedule caste, Creamy Schedule caste, only what I am not is INDIAN. You
politician have raped every part of mother India by your policy of
divide and rule.
Take example of former president Abdul Kalam. Such a intelligent person,
such a fine human being. You politician didn't even spare him. Your
party along with opposition joined the hands, because politician feels
they are supreme and there is no place for good person.
Dear Mr Prime minister you are one of the most intelligent person, most
learned person. Just wake up, be a real SARDAR. First and foremost
expose all selfish politician. Ask Swiss bank to give name of all Indian
account holder. Give reins of CBI to independent agency. Let them find
wolf among us. There will be political upheaval but that will better
than dance of death which we are witnessing every day. Just give us
ambient where we can work honestly and without fear. Let there be rule
of law. Everything else will be taken care of.
Choice is yours Mr. Prime Minister. Do you want to be lead by one person
or you want to lead the nation of 100 Crore people?
Prakash B. Bajaj
Chandralok 'A" Wing, Flat No 104
97 Nepean Sea Road
Mumbai 400 036
Phone 98210-71194
Every concern citizen of India wants some concrete solution to wipe out terrorism from its root. And why not, it should be wiped out, as it is impossible to survive with fear psychosis. Most of us are holding the politicians (corrupt) responsible for this type of incidents. I accept the fact that politicians are to a large extent responsible for what India is facing today. But why the politicians only, are not the bureaucrats responsible too? A Minister holds a non-executive post for a specific tenure. He or she does not have any power to execute a decision. Executive power is given to the bureaucrats only. Unless the bureaucrats involved in a process no Minister (even Prime Minister too) has any power to execute the decision. Only bureaucrats know the internal arrangements. But the system is as such that we see only one side of the coin. Whenever any issue is raised, whether good or a questionable, the name of the concerned politician comes in the picture and not the associates who are also involved in that issue. Therefore it is obvious that we point our fingers towards the politicians and not the bureaucrats involved.
NSG had been requesting for aircrafts exclusively for them, for carrying the commandos in the operation site for prompt action, over the last few years. They have sent the official written request to the Secretary of Home Affairs, Government of India. But their request had been turned down on the ground that it is a special force and not a complete wing (like Army, Navy and Air Force). Home Department on consultation with Defence Ministry provided aircraft of the Indian Air Force to NSG. Whenever NSG will require an aircraft, Air Force will provide the same in priority basis. The headquarters of NSG is located in Maneswar, Haryana and the nearby Air Force Station is Agra and Chandigarh. If emergency comes, the aircraft can be provided either from Agra or Chandigarh. If NSG had their own aircraft, the commandos would have reached Mumbai much faster. Is it not due to the bureaucratic system? Many such examples are there which we are ignorant about.
Post Mumbai attack the citizens of India are really awakened. Its good to see that there is a general awareness among the masses but how many of us are really concerned or rather try to know the whole process involved which is eventually resulting in this barbaric incident. When the Delhi and Mumbai airports were privatised, most of us were excited to see the glimmering terminals. But privatisation has raised a question on “security”. To be cost effective the private companies opt for contractual service. But what if any terrorists joins as a contract labourer and do some mis-happenings? Who will take the responsibility as Government has washed off his hands from the most sensitive sector.
Currently the Government is in the process of auctioning the 3G Spectrum. For that Ministry of Telecommunication is continuously pursuing the Defence Ministry to vacate the unused portion of the allocated Spectrum. At present Defence Ministry is using 40 % of the allocated Spectrum but they are not willing to vacate the remaining 60% because of the security reason. How many among us are aware of all the “GOOD DEEDS” of the Government? Even if we know about these issues do we actively raise our voice against it?