Save India, My India, Our India

After 72 hours of the horrendous ordeal, the 10 odd terrorists have been finally killed. We all have been watching and know what all had happened, who all died, who all escaped and what all has been damaged.
Sorry if I may appear a bit blunt below, but that just reflects the overall sentiments of the people around. It reflects the mood of my friends with whom I have been talking. What should be done immediately to restore the confidence?

• First and foremost thing, the terrorist caught alive, Mr. Mohammad Ajmal Mohammad Amin Kasab, the only terrorist to have been arrested in connection with the three-day terror attack should be handed over to the public (just for 2 hours per day). Rest all will be taken care. Please don't kill him. He needs to be kept alive till his last breath.
• The so called intelligence collected so far (as claimed by Mumbai police) needs to be shared with USA. Sorry to say but we are incompetent people and can't do much except making some noises. Not very sure if anybody even listens and cares. And there is no point in feeling ashamed of anything in doing so. One should definitely feel proud, but only when one is capable of. Mr. Bush and Obama are pledging all the support. Why can't we leverage our so called newly improved relationship with USA and mount international pressure on Pakistan.
• If these so called newly formed friends are not helping us out, we should just bomb the Pak Occupied Kashmir and destroy the terrorist camps. Yes, let's not think about anything. We have been doing this for past 50 years and have suffered a lot. Let the new era begin. What will happen? Some few thousands will be killed. Anyways we are dying every day. Isn't it? Innocent people are anyways getting killed. In Kashmir alone some 50000 might have died over a period of past 15-20 years. Let's try to bring an end to it for ever. If USA can de thrown Afghanistan and Iraq after 9/11, why can't we? It's time for an image makeover. Guys enough is enough. One can't have infinite patience. And people should not be allowed to test our patience again and again and again.
• The foremost important thing is that the elected representatives of the country/states should be made accountable. We put all our faith in them and elect them to run the country/protect our country. It's time to hold them accountable and punish them if they fail to do so. Otherwise how a Home minister can still continue despite the country suffering so miserably and so many times repeatedly. We have seen almost 15 - 20 terrorist attacks over a period of past 5-6 years. If HCL CEO 'Som Mittal' can be charge sheeted for failing to protect a ground level company BPO employee, why can't the same rule be applied to all those elected honorable representatives. What's the difference here? In fact they are also running a much bigger company i.e. our country. Today we are taking pride in celebrating the (non) heroics of Mumbai Police Force. I feel the other way round. In fact it is the very failure of the Mumbai Police force which made us go through the ordeal. Indian Police are the most corrupt government officials in the country and Mumbai Police are the most corrupt police force in India. Every one must have encountered this. I have my own experiences. If they would have done the job properly, we wouldn't have seen this day. What were the CST police doing when 2 terrorists were creating Havoc on the CST platform? What were they doing when the terrorists entered with AK - 47 rifles, grenades and RDX (which was huge enough to kill 5000 people as claimed by Deputy CM)?
• Right from the Home minister, Police commissioner, The Sub Inspector in charge of Gate way of India region, the Police constables on duty (may be sleeping at that time) at Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus all should be Punished for carelessness with the stringent punishment.

• Now we are all convinced that terror has no single form. It can happen anytime, anywhere and in any form. Today India, the largest democracy in the world is totally vulnerable. Nothing is safe here. Our lands, water, air, hotels, trains, airplanes, and buses literally nothing is safe. (Except the parliament). People can just walk in freely, do anything they want, walk out of the country without any questions asked. There is a serious need for having reforms on the overall security front and there should not be any compromises. Till the time something serious happens, the junta should be more careful and protect themselves.

But somewhere deep inside I am convinced we are very very patient people. Even a disaster of this magnitude will not shake us and make much difference. I am convinced nothing will happen. What can happen at most is

• Karkare, Salaskar, Kamte and Unnikrishan will get the Ashok Chakra.
• The thick skin home minister might get sacked this time.
• New committee on similar lines of FBI will be formed. At least discussions will happen and promises will be made, tax payer’s money will be allocated.
• Afzal guru may get executed. Elections are round the corner and UPA government doesn't want to take any chance now and lose out.
• Most important, the Twenty-20 champions trophy will start soon. Off course they will provide some Z+++ level security to all the players and officials. Everything will be forgotten and we will PROUDLY say Mumbaikars/Indians are resilient.

Things will be back to normal till tragedy happens the next time in some other format. What I do not know at this time is when and where and in what format!

India under Siege

At this moment I am sitting in front of the television and continuosly watching the hostage drama for past few hours. I am personally feeling really sad. NDTV is showing live that 2 people are standing in the hotel window frames and waving restlessly towards the crowd. They are requesting for help. One couple is standing helplesssly in the windows with words 'SAVE' scribed on the WINDOW glass. I can hear the gun shots being fired and people running in the background while Barkha Dutt is giving the live updates. There are news about blasts taking place inside the hotel. Feels like India is under Siege. I can imagine the state of mind of those who are stuck inside, their near and dear ones. What must be going through their minds? At this moment what I can do it just pray for them. My heart goes to all those 100+ who lost their lives, the 200+ people stuck inside the Oberoi, Taj hotel and Nariman house.

On one hand are these helpless innocent people who ar killed, scared. And on another hand are my favorite leaders busy delivering speeches.

I just heard my favorite leaders. The honorable home minister addressing the media and heard PM's public statement.

Mr. Shivraj Patil was very calm, composed and polite. Seems like he is ready with his post analysis.

Mr. Patil said "Before I could reach there, the terrorists who had attacked one of the hospitals, the Cama Hospital, had left and those who attacked the railway station had also left,". I sincerely wish the terrorists should have waited.

He also said “We are confident that we will be able to secure the freedom of the hostages at the earliest and teach a fitting lesson to the terrorists,”
“The terrorists have again challenged the nation by targeting the commercial capital of our country. We will meet this challenge resolutely and unitedly. We must convey a strong message to terrorists that we will not be cowed down by their senseless and dastardly acts,” Patil said.

This time the PM looked fully convinced about foreign hand involvement and mentioned that he would be raising the issue with our neighbour and reuest HIM Not to allow it's territory for such acts. great!. He also added that the attackers were "intent on creating a sense of panic by choosing high-profile targets”. PM is planning to use stringent security act if need arises.

I am quite confident that these kind of strong leaders/characters will certainly protect my country and my innocent fellow contry wmen men as they have been doing so far.

At this moment I am just praying. GOD BLESS INDIA!

Amen