Time and again, we’ve heard these stupid and insanely pathetic phrases from the politicians and media – Spirit of Mumbai…Spirit of India…Determination of Indians….We will fight back…Zero Tolerance on terrorism….Cowardly act…we condemn the act…
This so called Spirit as defined as moving on in spite of whatever the F happens!
Yes, it’s easy to move on. But then, how many of us have lost any loved one to these attacks. There are families whose sole earning member has died in these terror attacks. There are people who are injured beyond healing. They are living a disabled life because of these “cowardly act”…
Mumbai Attacks
But the question is – are these attacks cowardly? Or the fact that we’ve got used to the attacks is?
I am a Jain by religion. Once a year, we, Jains, celebrate a day as of seeking forgiveness for the wrongs we’ve done from every soul. We ask for forgiveness, and also forgive others for anything they did to hurt us – knowingly or unknowingly. Non-violence is the foundation on which Jainism – the entire religion – is standing today. Mahatma Gandhi also urged people to follow the principle of Live and Let live, a guiding principle in Jainism.
I reject it completely, without even stopping to look at the amazing things that can be achieved through non-violence. My blood boils at the images I see day in and day out on my TV screen, at the pathetic conditions we’re living in. We constantly debate that the world treats us badly, that the racists in other countries are abusing us, not letting us live peacefully, treating us differently. But do we ever look into our lives and see, if we treat our selves and fellow Indians the way we are expecting the world to treat us? Do we respect the lives of people around us?
We’ve gotten used to the terror attacks. It just doesn’t bother us anymore. We get angry, debate, shout, scream, cry, discuss, abuse the government, the law – everyone other than our own selves. Would an attack on an area like Zaveri Bazaar been possible in any other country after just few months back we suffered one of the biggest attacks ever (Nov. 2008).
The government will do what it does – play politics. That’s what they exist for. They will start blame game, start rath yatras, padyatras, fuckyatra, buckyatra…everything else other than to punish the guilty.
But what are we doing? We are letting them do it. We are letting them treat us badly. I am a part of it and even you are…those who are reading. Don’t you, after every blast feel even for a second …. Damn, this government, one more blast, this government can’t do anything, nothing will happen, nothing will change.
That nothing will happen is the so called spirit of our country today. An old man fasts for days together (while others were debating, fighting for him and politicians playing politics) but what was achieved? A letter stating that the 3 points have been accepted but “in principle”. That “in principle” is the biggest catch and thus the celebrations are unjustified. Again, nothing will happen.
The UPA government in 2004, repealed the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), the only bold act that was ever passed by the Parliament against terrorism. The arguments were ‘misuse and abuse’ of the law by the acting bodies. What the F! I don’t believe it, the real reason was Vote Bank. Today, we have a toothless act called the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. If you notice, the prevention is in brackets. Which to me means – Not gonna happen dude!
Here’s a list of the terror attacks since POTA was repealed (For complete list, check – WSJ)
- Aug. 15, 2004: Assam, 16 people killed, mostly school children.
- July 5, 2005: Militants attack Ram Janmabhoomi Complex.
- Oct. 29, 2005: 3 serial blasts, south Delhi, before Diwali, killing 59 and injuring 200.
- March 7, 2006: A series of bombings in Varanasi, 28 killed, 101 injured
- July 11, 2006: 7 blasts on the Mumbai Suburban Railway, 200 killed.
- Sept. 8, 2006: Series of blasts, Malegaon, Maharashtra. 37 killed & 125 injured
- May 18, 2007: Blast at Mecca Masjid, Hyderabad, 13 killed. 4 killed by police in the rioting that followed.
- May 26, 2007: Guwahati blasts, 6 killed, 30 injured.
- June 10, 2007: Manipur’s border town of Moreh, firing, 11 killed
- Aug. 25, 2007: Hyderabad. 42 killed, 50 injured in twin explosions
- May 13, 2008: Jaipur, series of six explosions, 63 killed, 150 injured
- July 25, 2008: Seven blasts in Bangalore. 1 killed, 150+ injured.
- July 26, 2008: Ahmedabad, 45 killed, 150+ injured.
- Sept. 13, 2008: New Delhi, Five bomb blasts. 21 killed, 100 injured.
- Sept. 27, 2008: New Delhi, 1 killed.
- Oct. 30, 2008: Thirteen blasts in Assam and three other towns, atleast 61 killed, 300 injured.
- Nov 26-29, 2008: Mumbai 168 killed, Indians and foreigners.
- April 6, 2009: Guwahati, six killed.
- Feb 13, 2010: German Bakery in Pune city, killed 13 injured 50.
- Sept., 2010: Low-intensity blast at Jama Masjid in Delhi sets car alight.
- Dec 7, 2010: Varanasi, 1 killed, 20 injured.
- May, 2011: Bomb partially explodes outside lawyers’ canteen of High Court in Delhi. No casualties.
- July 13, 2011: Three blasts in Mumbai; 21 people killed and more than 100 injured
- Sept. 7, 2011: Bomb at High Court in Delhi. 12 dead
That’s 24 attacks since we removed the law that was the actual zero tolerance law that was there. Okay, agreed, there were misuses so we got a new law. But then, there are 7 attacks already in less than 3 years? What the hell went wrong? Forget misuse, why aren’t the laws being used?
Why is Ajmal Kasab alive? Oh I forget, in a country where politicians are seeking mercy for the killers of a former Prime Minister, common man can never expect justice.
Yes, India is against corruption. Terrorism is corruption of peace. Terrorism is corruption of letting people live their lives. Terrorism is corruption of power by politicians to remain in their seats.
Will India reply to these attacks is not a question that should be in our minds. The question should be – Can India reply?
May be India can reply. May be India wants to reply. But then, what’s stopping us? Why do we have to look upto America to intervene after every attacks. Why we wait for their approvals for any action?
Nothing will happen…’cos we don’t want anything to happen. We’ve moved on. We take pride in that.
But…I don’t want to see the hopeless, spineless politicians coming on screen and condemning another terror attacks ‘cos there won’t be any future attack.
This is a dream, a hope, which I fear, will break soon!
iWrite 