So what’s new? Oh, another bomb blast? Is everyone you know safe? Thank God!
That’s going to be the effect on the common man soon. And our leaders? The poor souls have no time from calling each other names and fixing them for slights. And of course framing anti-corruption laws from their jail cells. The aam janta has no sympathy for our poor hard-working leaders. Tut-tut.
A bomb explodes in the heart of the Capital — at the High court, where already harassed and troubled men and women are waiting for justice that might often be delayed or even denied. Hundreds are injured and 12 have lost their lives at the last count. Politicians, ministers and even the PM rushed to the hospitals to see the victims. Some of them including Rahul Gandhi are booed at. Does it make a difference to them? Why should it, when they all enjoy Z category security? What price is the common man’s life to them? After all there are 125 crores of them. What would it matter if a few hundreds lost their lives in the government’s ‘War against Terror?’ Aren’t we all soldiers of this wonderful country owned …oops, ruled by a few privileged ‘representatives of the people’?
We have profound and repetitive statements from the HM and CM and all the other wannabes condemning the attack. The speeches are all the same. I think the speech writers quickly change the place and date of the attack and give it to the dignitaries to spout their gyan. No emotion, no feelings nothing but jargon.
And the ex-gratia payments. Yesterday the Secretary of Internal Security read out a long list of payments for those dead, lost one limbs, two limbs, orphaned…It was like an insurance claim being distributed and made me gag. What are a few lakhs for a family that has lost its bread winner or a child orphaned? And don’t forget the victims are already seeking justice in some lawsuit or the other.
After having been out of the public eye after the Anna arrest fiasco, our HM got to hold some eyeballs on national TV with his customary statement. He was trying to pass off the blame to Delhi Police that it had ignored the security warning in July of a possible terror attack. What else can we expect from him when he had passed the buck for the wrong list of wanted terrorists sent to Pakistan, when half of them are already enjoying state banquets in our jails? Accountability is something that those in power sorely lack and the common man pays the price.
Yesterday the HUji took responsibility for the blast through an email and today the Indian Mujahideen is taking credit. It is such a great thing blowing up humans that every terr outfit wants to be part of it. And a day and half later, all the security agencies are groping in the dark. Haathi nikal gaya dum bhi nahin rahi! Should one laugh or cry?
Everyone is working over time. NIA is given charge for investigating the blast from day one says the headline. Shoud we say ‘Hooray’? Delhi Chief Minister assures that strict action will be taken against those responsible for the security lapses. Rest assured that some minor official’s head will roll — she has promised as much in as many words — and the rest will be status quo till the next time.
Today a high level meeting between the country’s premier security agencies (IB, RAW, NSA, NIA etc. etc. etc.) and the Home Minister is on. Wait for more meaningless assurances and empty statements from the Home Ministry about how there has been a terror attack and that they are investigating it. And oh, I forgot the red alert bit. All metros are on high alert after every blast. For how long? Till the common man relaxes and goes back to breathing slightly easier. And that’s what the terrorist is waiting for – to spring another lethal bomb in another crowded place to kill more aam janta.
The police had asked for CCTV surveillance after the May blast in the same place, but the request passed on the PWD has been in a quagmire of red tape and commission-mongering and is yet to see the light of the day. And now, after the blast we hear that it will be done within a week. As if the terrorist is idiot enough to bomb Gate No 5 of the Delhi High Court again and fall into the hands of the waiting police. How clever and quick acting our departments are! Aren’t you proud of them?
The police have refined the sketches of suspects based on eyewitness accounts and they will soon be circulated among all bus stations, railways stations, airports etc. etc. etc. Even on the off chance that someone spots the suspects and the police apprehend them, what will happen eventually? They will be lodged in some high security prison and given star treatment in addition to being provided with books for entertainment, and special food they are used to while they appeal for mercy for being innocent. You see, our human rights record has to be impeccable!
The real culprits in the meanwhile will go on plotting deadlier attacks on the common man who will have to bear the brunt of the purported war on terror – by sacrificing limb and life for the cause!
When will our elected representatives who hold the reins of this country feel any remorse, shame, accountability and responsibility? Or are they content with the moolah they are raking in, the muck they are throwing at each other and the indecent level of security they are enjoying?
Looks like it, doesn’t it?
Pic at top : courtesy Google images
The Cybernag 
That is our esteemed democratic institution – the sanctity of which some talked about protecting. With 9/11 anniversary just going by, the media is flooded with reminders of the tragedy. One thing we need to give to Americas, they damn well ensured that it doesnt get repeated and did it. Well no – its been 10 years. Our HM reminded us after the july Mumbai blasts, that it happened after a goodamn 3 years.
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It has become an annual ritual, several of them in fact — to commemorate a blast anniversary. And we hear the same empty words from ruthlessly emotionless leaders. The US cares about protecting its citizens. Maybe the best thing this government could do is to beg US to take all our population and keep it safe. There is enough space there. 🙂 Calling them to protect you here is useless as is evident from what is going on in our neighboring country as that country is grinding its own axes.
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Well said, fred. And Tq for the comment and promo on the “non-violent terrorist” post.As for the answer: I would hide and throw the gun at the terrorist. Out of sheer habit he will gun down the politician – then i will arrive with cops and catch the terrorist and book him. Remember only I am immune against a criminal charge 😉
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You are welcome Avalok. I usually visit blogs from the Indivine and leave a comment if i like a particular post. As for your idea, it is ingenious! Killing both terrorists with one shot LOL
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Had blogged about something similar today – Looks like all of us commoners are all thinking the same thing…
I think we should acknowledge that
1) We are not as important as the politicians – after all they were elected.
2) American lives are far superior to Indian lives – how come there have been no major attacks after 9/11 – i admit that they have less of a population – but they have more of a coastline and more land to defend. Also somehow 9/11 mattered to them. For us 26/11 was just another day when we get to prove to the world that Pakistan is oh So mean to us and oh so responsible. See we told the world so – at least we were proved right and that is more important than the lives we loose to terrorism.
Sorry about the long cynical comment but the situation we are in is something which totally frustrates, irritates and makes me so mad!
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I understand Nuts. The same frustration had made me dash off the post. but is the politician/leaders reading it or even able to gauge the public pulse? They are so busy saving themselves/. You have rightly said, ‘They are our elected representatives.’ We are good at making noises and even that is sometimes misplaced, like the time our great foreign minister mixed up his speeches and we send an extradition request that has expired. We are also good at pointing fingers at one another while the common man dies.
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Sorry to be late here…
It seems that we are living in a perpetual state of terror. An attack somewhere in India every few months. CCTVs or any other technology will be of very limited use.
The best deterrent will be swift justice. It is not as though we have not caught any terrorists. But the trials drag on for years. And appeal after appeal ensures that another few years go by.
And supposing the death penalty is awarded debates start on whether the death penalty is humane or not. This is not really a question to be decided in the case of an individual trial, but is a matter of policy. But hey, if it delays matters further it’s a gambit worth trying.
It a frustrating situation, but seems we will have to live with it for the forseeable future…
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I totally agree that it is going to be status quo unless some tectonic upheaval subjects this subcontinent to a comlplete shakedown. We lack the poliitcal will, we are opportunistic, we are looking for political expediency. What hope is there unless they wake up or at least their conscience, if they have one, wakes up?
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Real stinging article! I feel so sad and helpless at the state of affairs of our country. We can only pray and hope that we are not caught in any terrorist strikes, what else can we do?
The US has not seen a terror attack in the last 10 years, surely we can learn something from there other then fashion and other non important things!!
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To do any significant thing, one needs political will. When our wonderful PM has lamented about not being able to do anything due to the ‘compulsions of coalition politics’, what can we hope for? We are a condemned nation, at the mercy of a useless but arrogant government on the one hand and terrorists on the other. Take away the Z and X category security from our beloved leaders and see them run to make this country a safer place!
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Isn’t our govt as wicked as the terrorists? What can it do? What can a bunch of corrupt, illiterate, money-minded villains do for the country better than a bunch of idiotic, illiterate, money-minded terrorists?
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Welcome here Matheikal! Are you looking for privilege notices too? 🙂 But i agree that those who allow such acts to continue because of inaction are equally culpable. But with the brazenness of this government pushing through all kinds of legistlation in the arrogance of power, there seems to be little hope that the common man can get any protection or justice. 😦
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These people are bothered only about them and the others ministry. They don’t value the life of a common man. India needs to wake up and make its country secure. The Government is all words, no action. this has to change.
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It is all up to the common man, you see. He has to safeguard his own interests and safety too, because mired in political expediency and vote banks, the government will not take any concrete action against the perpetrators.
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We are USED to such attacks and also government actions after each incident. Nothing changes and nothing happens even when the investigation leads to something. That’s the state of affair.
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The reason why the investigating agencies go slow or don’t do anthing is probably because they also know that nothing will come out of it. If only politics were completely abolished from this country! things will surely look up then.
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Awesome article! A real eye opener… I mean it!
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Hey Senthil, thanks. hope to see you here again. 🙂
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Finally trying to be awake …..
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Hey, we are all awake, it is the government that is sleeping. btw, did you mean actually waking, as from sleep? 🙂
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very concerned take. it’s high time people of India and all in an unanimous way demand specific anti terror strategic fightback. name game etc. ought to be avoided and earnest efforts taken. terror has no religion and dealt as terror. it’s our brothers and any act of terror ought to be dealt in the same coin.
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I like your style of writing. I can sense the anger.”Oh another bomb blast” has actually become our typical response. The CCTV issue- this was brought out at the time of Zaveri Bazaar bomb attack in Mumbai. When will HM attach importance to this simple solution? If these “12 lives” is the price of keeping Afzal alive, is it worth?
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Thanks for the comment Hariharan. HM has more pressing matters to attend to. The common man’s life is dispensable. And to think they are not even being given the bodies of their loved ones back without a bribe! Isn’t it the pits? But the Afzal Guru matter is political expediency, don’t you see?
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Whose wake up call is this? My eyes are so tired of waking up they may just plop on the floor. Or is it a call to the ‘Government of India’, a.k.a. the termites, for shaking out of stupor? This Danse Macabre is merely a symptom of the terminal malaise that has gripped the country. They will only gnaw harder at the root. We are not a nation fit for democracy. PERIOD . Please don’t quote Hosni Mubarak to me either. Fundamentalists will ensure that Egypt descends to a morass deeper, darker and dirtier than what it used to be in recent past.
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Oh USP, you sound even more frustrated than me, if that were possible. Looks like the terminal malaise indeed what with everyone busy with his or her own agendas and calling each other names. how I wish for one more avatar of Vishnu — didn’t He say He would be born again when dharma was degraded. How much degradation is necessary? At least like in fantasies we should have the clock turn back 65 years and we do things differently. 😦
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Enough of debates on terror…only action and planning needed.
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absolutely, they are hopelessly predictable in their responses, empty words! “Dastardly act.” “We condemn it.” ” The perpetrators will be punished.” blah blah blah. Their sole reason for being in power is to misuse it and make money. Who cares about governance and security as long as they are protected in their cozy convoys.
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It is frustrating to see that despite so many problems that ail the country, the government is cool as cucumber and brazening it out. Where are the days when a Lal Bahadur Shastri resigned as the railway minister when there was just one rail accident? Today if the ministers start resigning we will have a new minister every day. how can even the HM look the people of this country in the eye and speak his blahs?
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Terrorism is like the rakta beej rakshasha.All the kings and their men futilely wring their hands and rattle their toy-swords but the monster only grows and grows.
Our systems are Reactive and ritual oriented-“don’t touch unclaimed objects” kind.Pro-active and decisive action against them is a thing that we need to learn from US Navy SEALS.
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Yes indeed. We seem to live in a dream world despite having access to the best intelligence sources and technological resources to fight terror. But mired in political expedience and fawning diplomacy we fail to take action, emboldening the monsters.
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They are like a bunch of robots giving predictable responses. Do they feel a thing? I doubt it.
When The Parliament was attacked in 2001, the whole city was brought to a standstill. Security measures were taken immediately and till now that stretch of road is not available for public use.
Then why cite red tape as an excuse for the aam admi?
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I was frothing at the mouth when I head Sheila Dixit announce that ‘there is a certain way the government works,’ when she was asked about the delay in installing the CCTV cameras. Don’t we know what way it works? The relatives of those who had died were angry with these netas for creating more security issues when they visited the victims and delaying their getting the bodies of their loved ones. How insensitive on top of being indifferent. Aam admi be damned.
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