Indian Newspapers of 1st Dec 2008 carried the headlines “Patil Quits, Chindabaram@HomeMinistry”. Does it make any difference to this country? Shivraj Patil's loyalty to Sonia Gandhi got him the post of Home Minister and when the country’s interest became more important than the politics he was asked to step down. National Security Advisor, M K Narayanan also puts in his papers in the backdrop of officials pointing out that intelligence agencies had an inkling about the attacks, but failed to act. Vilasrao Deshmukh, the Chief Minister is almost forced to resign. See the guts of this man who takes so light of the situation that he chooses to take a film actor and director along with him on his tour of the Taj hotel. Deputy Chief Minister is the front runner and power broker for Sharad Pawar and thus a Dy.CM, whether such post is administratively a necessity. All this is a clear indication that loyalty is encouraged at the cost of efficiency.
Every politician’s only agenda seems to be to figure out ways and means as to how to win an election and then manage to get a plush ministerial berth. Once that is accomplished everything else seems to be passé including good and efficient administration. Taking a leaf out of the politicians, bureaucrats have also grown corrupt and inefficient.
When somebody is caught making several crores by Lokayukta, it is prominently reported in the media, both print and electronic, as though these happenings are few and far between. Corruption is rampant and prevalent everywhere. In this holy country of ours everything comes at a price, may it be a water connection, electrical connection, telephone connection, driving license, passport, birth certificate, death certificate and even ashes of the dear ones cremated at a crematorium. Every Indian citizen experiences this every day. But the government with all its intelligence agencies are blind to it and the media fails to come to the rescue of the citizens. They say God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. God knows how far that is true but I have come to firmly believe that in our country Corruption is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. If we do not have the eye to see it, then we as a race are soon on the path of lawlessness. Every social malady has to be addressed before it assumes gigantic proportions lest we may all get sucked into it and would never be able to stay afloat. Press and media should investigate every prominent office of revenue and profit and unearth these corrupt practices and fight fiercely to end the menace of corruption.
What happened in Taj was an audacious attempt almost resembling war or a dress rehearsal of war. Come to think of 10 terrorists holding hundreds of police force, NSG and Commandos for more than 56 hours, is a frightening situation. A simple ratio of 10 terrorists versus 500 or more police personnel, bang in Mumbai city should open up a lot of debate about our security system within the country and all across its borders. The police were caught not only napping but also naked. The ammunition was sub-standard, the bulletproof vests were of poor quality, which could not stop the bullets of AK-57. Corruption has crept into the level of procuring sub-standard protective appliances, which the procurer himself may one day wear, and fall a victim to his own misdemeanor.
It is high time now that one pauses to ponder and think of why all these resignations and ministerial changes are happening only now and not earlier? Now that raises an important question as to why journalistic reporting earlier was slack and without seriousness. If only all these probings and soul searching were to be done earlier, the Bombay massacre would have been avoided.
There was an attempted attack on scientists in IISc at Bangalore, followed by several bomb blasts in several parts of the IT hub, and shamelessly several more bomb blasts on the very next day in Ahamadabad and later in Jaipur. Not to forget, the entire serial bomb blasts in Bombay sub-urban. Why all these political and administrative big heads did not feel at that time itself that they as a clan have miserably failed and it is their misdemeanors of administration (although a bigger doubt prevails whether there was any administration worth the name at all) which had brought on all these calamities. Why they did not offer to quit or resign at that point of time and why specifically now only?? That is a million dollar question all the sane thinking minds should address themselves, investigate, analyze and report so that the people who have a right to know will know what and why of the whole issue.
Why Now and not then?
I will answer the latter part of the question first as it concerns me and my brethren masses and then shall answer the first part.
Why not then, because the Victims then were not the who-is-who of Bangalore or Ahmedabad or Mumbai or Jaipur. They were the common masses and anyway who cares about them. Their worth and value are the same whether they are alive or dead. Enough you glorify them as the “Spirit of Mumbai” and yeah, the common man is all elated by the phrase. Every political head chose to remain silent or turn his face the other way during all those events. The masses are needed only during election time and for now, better they are called the “Spirit of Bombay” and put them on the spin.
“Why Not then” has only one answer – the common man was the victim – the commodity is cheap, available in abundance and dispensable.
But the answers to the first part of the question “Why now” are several.
Firstly the people who frequent Taj’s Coffee Shop or lounge for lunch are the who-is-who of Bombay if not the whole country. They are a potential pressure group on the Government.
Secondly, the politicians and their families are used to dining there. They too are a pressure group on the Government.
Thirdly, several foreign nationals who had come on business were killed especially American and English. India as an emerging economy and cannot afford to be lax if we need to keep FIIs coming to our country.
So, Shivraj Patil has to quit making way for Chidambaram. The National security advisor has to resign. Thus proving a fact that the whole political and administrative machinery works all the time or even put in overtime only to cater to the needs of a few privileged of this country and certain business partners elsewhere in the world whose business may make or mar the economics of this country.
What is to be done now?
First and the foremost the intelligence agencies should investigate and unearth the terrorist training camps in Pakistan.
Next, make it known in no uncertain terms that Pakistan has to forthwith stop all such training activities.
Third, bring proper pressure on the international community to talk to Pakistan and ask them to either stop these activities on their own or allow them to enter Pakistan and do the needful.
If the above does not work then announce a war not against Pakistan but against Pakistani fundamentalist terrorists and their training camps.
This article including the above four paragraphs was written in the year 2008. It has taken almost a decade and required a BJP government at the center headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to implement all the points mentioned above and finally culminating in the surgical strikes (4th point) after Uri terrorist attack and a telling IAF air strikes on Balakot, Pakistan after the Pulwama terrorist attack. PeppyBytes is happy that its wishes came true and on this day May 29, 2019, would like to wholeheartedly thank the NDA government for upholding the pride of our nation and caring for the families and lives of our beloved soldiers who were martyred in Uri and Pulwama terror attacks.
Last but not the least; strengthen the Muslim voices that have come out openly denouncing the Mumbai terror attacks. Encourage them so that a message goes out to the whole world loud and clear: Indian Muslims are Indians and they care for only India and India alone cares for them.
Having said that much which involves several national agencies and international communities, here at home we should build solid preventive and protective security systems. Thieves and robbers will not dare to venture in an area where security is tight. They always take advantage of poor security or compromised security just as the computer viruses do. The malady as it prevails is poor security systems or compromised security systems. The need of the hour is to build good and efficient security systems and personnel.
Every politician’s only agenda seems to be to figure out ways and means as to how to win an election and then manage to get a plush ministerial berth. Once that is accomplished everything else seems to be passé including good and efficient administration. Taking a leaf out of the politicians, bureaucrats have also grown corrupt and inefficient.
When somebody is caught making several crores by Lokayukta, it is prominently reported in the media, both print and electronic, as though these happenings are few and far between. Corruption is rampant and prevalent everywhere. In this holy country of ours everything comes at a price, may it be a water connection, electrical connection, telephone connection, driving license, passport, birth certificate, death certificate and even ashes of the dear ones cremated at a crematorium. Every Indian citizen experiences this every day. But the government with all its intelligence agencies are blind to it and the media fails to come to the rescue of the citizens. They say God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. God knows how far that is true but I have come to firmly believe that in our country Corruption is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. If we do not have the eye to see it, then we as a race are soon on the path of lawlessness. Every social malady has to be addressed before it assumes gigantic proportions lest we may all get sucked into it and would never be able to stay afloat. Press and media should investigate every prominent office of revenue and profit and unearth these corrupt practices and fight fiercely to end the menace of corruption.
What happened in Taj was an audacious attempt almost resembling war or a dress rehearsal of war. Come to think of 10 terrorists holding hundreds of police force, NSG and Commandos for more than 56 hours, is a frightening situation. A simple ratio of 10 terrorists versus 500 or more police personnel, bang in Mumbai city should open up a lot of debate about our security system within the country and all across its borders. The police were caught not only napping but also naked. The ammunition was sub-standard, the bulletproof vests were of poor quality, which could not stop the bullets of AK-57. Corruption has crept into the level of procuring sub-standard protective appliances, which the procurer himself may one day wear, and fall a victim to his own misdemeanor.
It is high time now that one pauses to ponder and think of why all these resignations and ministerial changes are happening only now and not earlier? Now that raises an important question as to why journalistic reporting earlier was slack and without seriousness. If only all these probings and soul searching were to be done earlier, the Bombay massacre would have been avoided.
There was an attempted attack on scientists in IISc at Bangalore, followed by several bomb blasts in several parts of the IT hub, and shamelessly several more bomb blasts on the very next day in Ahamadabad and later in Jaipur. Not to forget, the entire serial bomb blasts in Bombay sub-urban. Why all these political and administrative big heads did not feel at that time itself that they as a clan have miserably failed and it is their misdemeanors of administration (although a bigger doubt prevails whether there was any administration worth the name at all) which had brought on all these calamities. Why they did not offer to quit or resign at that point of time and why specifically now only?? That is a million dollar question all the sane thinking minds should address themselves, investigate, analyze and report so that the people who have a right to know will know what and why of the whole issue.
Why Now and not then?
I will answer the latter part of the question first as it concerns me and my brethren masses and then shall answer the first part.
Why not then, because the Victims then were not the who-is-who of Bangalore or Ahmedabad or Mumbai or Jaipur. They were the common masses and anyway who cares about them. Their worth and value are the same whether they are alive or dead. Enough you glorify them as the “Spirit of Mumbai” and yeah, the common man is all elated by the phrase. Every political head chose to remain silent or turn his face the other way during all those events. The masses are needed only during election time and for now, better they are called the “Spirit of Bombay” and put them on the spin.
“Why Not then” has only one answer – the common man was the victim – the commodity is cheap, available in abundance and dispensable.
But the answers to the first part of the question “Why now” are several.
Firstly the people who frequent Taj’s Coffee Shop or lounge for lunch are the who-is-who of Bombay if not the whole country. They are a potential pressure group on the Government.
Secondly, the politicians and their families are used to dining there. They too are a pressure group on the Government.
Thirdly, several foreign nationals who had come on business were killed especially American and English. India as an emerging economy and cannot afford to be lax if we need to keep FIIs coming to our country.
So, Shivraj Patil has to quit making way for Chidambaram. The National security advisor has to resign. Thus proving a fact that the whole political and administrative machinery works all the time or even put in overtime only to cater to the needs of a few privileged of this country and certain business partners elsewhere in the world whose business may make or mar the economics of this country.
What is to be done now?
First and the foremost the intelligence agencies should investigate and unearth the terrorist training camps in Pakistan.
Next, make it known in no uncertain terms that Pakistan has to forthwith stop all such training activities.
Third, bring proper pressure on the international community to talk to Pakistan and ask them to either stop these activities on their own or allow them to enter Pakistan and do the needful.
If the above does not work then announce a war not against Pakistan but against Pakistani fundamentalist terrorists and their training camps.
This article including the above four paragraphs was written in the year 2008. It has taken almost a decade and required a BJP government at the center headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to implement all the points mentioned above and finally culminating in the surgical strikes (4th point) after Uri terrorist attack and a telling IAF air strikes on Balakot, Pakistan after the Pulwama terrorist attack. PeppyBytes is happy that its wishes came true and on this day May 29, 2019, would like to wholeheartedly thank the NDA government for upholding the pride of our nation and caring for the families and lives of our beloved soldiers who were martyred in Uri and Pulwama terror attacks.
Last but not the least; strengthen the Muslim voices that have come out openly denouncing the Mumbai terror attacks. Encourage them so that a message goes out to the whole world loud and clear: Indian Muslims are Indians and they care for only India and India alone cares for them.
Having said that much which involves several national agencies and international communities, here at home we should build solid preventive and protective security systems. Thieves and robbers will not dare to venture in an area where security is tight. They always take advantage of poor security or compromised security just as the computer viruses do. The malady as it prevails is poor security systems or compromised security systems. The need of the hour is to build good and efficient security systems and personnel.
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