Pakistan must pay heavy price

I am equally angry with the present breed of politicians in the power. They are weak and they can not take any action and they are totally irresponsible. To mention some of the incidents

RR Patil Home minister (Maharashtra)

“such minor incidents do happen in big cities

A dialogue which he stole from DDLJ only to save his incompetence and his power chair.

Congress party spokesman Sanjay Nirupam was almost mobbed after his interview with Al Jazeera.

Vilas Rao Deshmukh takes his son along with Ram Gopal Verma to Taj Hotel for a possible movie shooting title “Shoutout at Taj Mahal Palace”

Deshmukh’s statement to media

“”I have offered to resign. I repeat that I have offered to resign. It is up to high command to accept my resignation depending on whether I am responsible for these attacks. High command will decide whether he is responsible or not””

Kerala CM’s response:

First day: “If it had not been (Major)Sandeep’s house, not even a dog would have glanced that way,”

Second day: “I did not say anything wrong. We respect their family and that is why we went there,” an unapologetic CM told TV channel Times Now.

This is the attitude of our politicians in power.

Let me quote another instance below.

Mr Abhinav bindra shoots perfectly and fetches a gold and an awards of Rs. 1 crore.

Major Unnikrishanan shoots perfectly but he gets only Rs. 5 lakhs.

The only difference is the life which Major Unnikrishanan lost while fighting terrorists and saving the victims from the terrorists.

I would also like to attach a column from M J Akbar who is a know secular face in the media. You must read this and judge the anger of an indian muslim.

The present UPA govt is totally responsible for this and must pay the price.

The present dispension at the centre must also pay a heavy price

Pakistan will have to pay a heavy price

M J Akbar is one of India’s best-known journalists and commentators, someone with a deep insight into the Indian people and their mindset. In this first-person, as-told-to piece, Akbar discusses the Mumbai attacks and their relevance for India.

Many people forget that India is a tough nation. Toothless leaders have turned India into a soft nation. People forget that India has fought back Muslim terrorism in Kashmir; Sikh terrorism in Punjab, Christian terrorism in Nagaland and Hindu terrorism in Assam, and amongst the Naxalites [Images].

We have had everything thrown at the Indian nation State. Still, we have stood up. The people of India have shown the courage and ability to believe in their nation and to fight back. But the completely impotent leadership of five years have turned a tough country into a soft State.

I am very sad. I keep feeling that if they protect India as they protect their leaders — whether it is Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] or Congress President Sonia Gandhi [Images] — I think I would be safe. Today, India’s leaders are safe and India is in panic.

On what India’s response should be:

India’s proper reaction would be possible if we understand the extent of the disease.

If the disease is cancer, you can’t apply band aid. After making a complete mess of security issues for five years by asking Shivraj Patil [Images] to go finally we may have a home minister who doesn’t comb his hair and change his clothes. But we want something more than that. If it is cancer, we need chemotherapy, a much more serious exercise. It needs a legislative and executive framework. It needs political mobilisation. People are numbed.

The Indian people have no leadership. You have a prime minister. Did you see him when he addressed the nation? Nobody knew if he was addressing the nation or having a cup of tea?

He looked serious, but he didn’t talk to us about our anger and about our anguish. I think this administration is tone deaf to the anguish of the people. They just cannot understand what the people are going through. They just don’t understand our pain or our anger. The most important thing is that, perhaps, we have politicised not only the instruments of the State like the police but we have also politicised the understanding of the nature of the problem.

I think the very first thing to do is to ensure security so that it prevents the next attack. If any attack takes place under someones job should go. Don’t come to me with alibis.

On the terrorists getting local support:

I am an Indian Muslim and I am very proud of both, being an Indian and a Muslim. I do not see any contradictions. This is my land and I have nowhere else to go.

But can I say because I am an Indian Muslim that no Indian Muslim is involved? Can you, because you are a Hindu, say that no Hindu is involved? We have to behave like Indians first. Not as a Muslim or as a Hindu first. Because we need Hindu votes and Muslim votes and because this government thinks that it needs Muslim votes so it has been in complete denial.

Do you think that these people came across from Pakistan and had no support in Mumbai?

It is not possible. It was a huge operation. Ten people hit nine places and you killed nine of them. You want to say that they went from place to place? Who knows some of them must have slipped away to create new sleeper cells to hit us six months later.

They are hiding things. I would like to believe that there was an underworld connection. Because, Karachi and Mumbai are also linked by drug smuggling. The culture of criminals is aggression. It comes naturally to them. It is not easy for you and I to become aggressive, however angry we are. It does not come naturally to us. These are people who are trained psychologically in aggression. They have no respect for the State. They have no love for the country. And they have no respect for authority.

Why? Because the only face of authority is the corrupt policeman. The criminal gives money in the morning and money in the evening. Why should he have respect for somebody he gives bribes to? For the guy from the underworld his understanding of the Indian State and authority is corruption. He has no patriotism to stop him. Why would he not join hands with the terrorists? In any case, he belongs to another world. We have not even begun to address and discuss this.

On the Pakistan factor

I am tired of giving Pakistan a long rope on some excuse or the other. Everybody is saying this will happen if we do this, that will happen if we do this. Our relations with Pakistan will go, then, let them go. What has our relations with Pakistan brought us except violence and terror? Why should we be in charge of saving Pakistan? For what? Every time they turn around and they say they want evidence. Now, finally we have evidence.

I have been an editor for 35 years from the age of 23. From that time on, since the days of General Zia-ul Haq, I have been hearing ‘Pakistan is asking for evidence’. We asked for withdrawal of their support to the movement for Khalistan, they said, ‘Oh, we don’t know anything about it.’ On Kashmir, they kept repeating where is the evidence. Benazir Bhutto [Images] came, she asked for evidence. Nawaz Sharif came, he asked for evidence. I think Pervez Musharraf [Images] asked for less evidence. Now again, they are asking for evidence.

There is a terrorist in Mumbai, captured and arrested. How much more evidence do you want? If what he is saying is not evidence, then how can you get more evidence?

This government is in its 11th hour. Now they will bluff the people to protect their votes. There is no time left for them. The agony of departure will be hard from this government.

On the reaction in the West

The US and Britain have a vested interest in telling India to look within. Why? When Americans die then they can send their air force 7,000 miles and bomb every country to smithereens. But when Indians die, they tell us no, no, you must be patient. You must act like a swami and a yogi. Why? Is an American life more precious than an Indian life? Why should we keep listening to them? But we have a government that keeps listening to them all the time. We don’t get tough.

The last time we got tough was after the attack on Parliament. We took some tough actions under Operation Parakram and then there was a certain lull. Three years ago, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was able to tell President George W Bush [Images] that there are no terrorists amongst Indian Muslims. That means that lull continued.

Pakistan must be made to realise that it will have to pay a heavy price. Not necessarily through war, but a heavy price will have to be paid in loss in trade, in cancellation of orders and other engagements. They should pay a heavy price in terms of people to people relations. I am not saying you can freeze a relationship to death, but the message must go out that if there is a crime there will be a penalty. You just can’t get away with it.

Let the Pakistan government cooperate with us. But look at how the Pakistan government has buckled down and we are sitting here whimpering.

They want to send some lowly officers to India. For what? Even Pakistan is treating the Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi government with total contempt. They know how weak it is.

Delink Hindu-Muslim relations and Pakistan

Look, you must not confuse the Pakistan issue with the Indian Muslims issue. Their so-called alienation or their economic deprivation is not linked to the issue of Pakistan.

Indian Muslims have nothing to do with Pakistan. They have absolutely no sympathy for Pakistan. They know that Pakistan was the biggest mistake committed in the history of Indian Muslims. They know it. You can ask anyone in Baroda, Bihar or Mumbai. They know how they are suffering the backlash of all the consequences of cross-border terrorism.

Today, they fear retribution from the government, they fear retribution from popular disenchantment and anger. They feel helpless. They feel afraid.

We must understand finally that it is not so much the ‘local people’, it is the local underworld that is involved in anti-India activities. In 1993, who were involved in terrorism? The underworld. Why have you not done anything about it? The State turns a blind eye to the police and corruption. I don’t know how many readers smoke hashish and other stuff, but I am accusing them of cross-border terrorism. Drugs come to India from Afghanistan via Karachi.

What we can do as individuals

If whoever is responsible for protecting the nation fails, then he or she should not be allowed to continue in power. That is the toughest and sharpest message we can give. You can tell that you may be a soft State, but we are a hard people and we are hard voters.

We are not going to forgive you for your lies and deception and for your waffling. How many blasts do we need to understand that? When Jaipur [Images], Ahmedabad [Images], Mumbai and Delhi [Images] happened no one who was genuinely guilty was caught.

We have to understand now that corruption has eaten away vitals of this nation. It is the biggest danger to the security of India. It is not just the case of some spectrum being sold to someone by some minister in. Everyone who is corrupt get out!

It Is a failure all around. We have to be extremely practical and pragmatic. There is great deal to be depressed about as an Indian. Frankly speaking, I feel very angry and upset. I am never upset by the behaviour of our enemies. I am only upset by the betrayal of those I trust.

M J Akbar, editor, Covert magazine, spoke to Sheela Bhatt

http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/dec/02mumterror-pakistan-will-have-to-pay-a-heavy-price.htm

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13 Comments

  1. says: Avnish Katoch

    A common person is numb, angry and has no idea what to do? Its like society has been raped.

    Unfortunately the solution is not politics or politicians or to one party. As Mr. Akbar clearly pointed the whole system has become corrupt.

    In this trying time a lot of anger and emotions are being suppressed by Indians inside them andthey would erupt.

    Its time to rethink and plan things in a different way. Its like you are not at all safe in your own house. But many reasons are within society also. We have become too busy in our personal lives and mostly forgets in this new world that if we are together then no one can dare to look with bad eye on us.

    A fitting answer is required for the politicians but as reports are now coming that how our BABUS have become, I think we need to look at them. We all know and experience RED TAPE on daily basis in India. Heck we run a social organisation for the welfare of the state and still we face RED TAPE.

    However there is a terrorism of BABUS also, which never ever let us join hands and revolt against them. Politicians, we throw during elections, but what about the corrupt officers?

    Living here in US, my heart is bleeding and during the 4 days holiday my eyes were just glued to the TV. I have so much ager now against the system and I have no idea how to react?

  2. says: NITYIN

    What ever the reason, Pakistan treats India as shi*. Some how the Pakis are not convinced that Indian is a nuclear state where as Indian leadership almost pee in their pants whenever there is a chance of eye for an eye response with Pakistan. 5 years back, Vajpayee mobalised the army on borders but then it was called back without firing a single shot!! This time too the Govt is speaking in the same in a conciliatory tone with Pakistan than a demanding tone. Vajpayee too sent a list of 10 person and MS has sent the same. As usual Pakistan have thrown this in the trash bin.

    There is some reason that Pakis don’t treat us seriously and our govt’s own action remain dubious. Were the Pokharan tests a fluke and the Pakis know it? Or is there something else which the Pakis know about our defense preparedness that the common man doesn’t?

    Why has been Indian Govt afraid of engaging the Pakis directly??

  3. says: Des Kashyap

    Well Well! this is a damn serious matter and I do not know where to start from? Three days in Mumbai were like the time had frozen. Sitting seven seas away from my home I was mad. What is going on? Who are they? Where did they come from? And then finally we knew they were only a couple but held the forces back for three day. Then came a docile speech from our beloved PM warning Pakistan. Well I do not even understand I should term it as “Warning” It was like one of those warnings where a small kids standing in front of a giant warns the giant that he will beat him, though he knows he cant do anything. I am not saying Pakistan is a giant but our PM acted like that small kid.
    For now it is over, but who knows what is their next target? People will forget about Mumbai in days as they did previously and so would the politicians and wait for another such incidence with similar or may be more devastating consequences. Pakistan will always be asking for evidence and we will never be able to convince the world that we are screwed by this state.

  4. says: Sudarshan Kumar

    To further continue this discussion
    The latest comes from our Foreign minister
    “Sending a tough message, India on Tuesday said it has demanded the handing over of LeT chief Hafiz Mohammad and other fugitives in
    Pakistan in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks and would await Islamabad’s response.

    In significant remarks, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said only “time will show” what will be done by India but made it clear that nobody was talking about military action.”
    Our politicians have ensured that there will no troop mobilization and no threat to Pakistan.
    And Pakistanis can now happily sleep.
    Whereas on this side of the boarder, we are not sure whether we are going to return back in the evening after finishing our office work?
    Whether we will be coming back after watching a movie in a local theatre?
    Whether the people traveling in a local bus/train are safe?

    Enough is enough….
    The babus must be made responsible and if they do not behave, then there is nothing left except the harsh steps, which would probably lead to a revolution like that of French revolution in 1917.

  5. says: NITYIN

    Read this – A HREF=”http://www.mid-day.com/news/2008/dec/011208-Mumbai-bullet-encounter-specialist-Vijay-Salaskar-Mumbai-terror-blast-bullet-proof-jacket.htm”>Every single bullet went through the jackets Salaskar was among the few officers aware that an inquiry was pending against these vests. He is also learnt to have approached the court, through a PIL, questioning the use of these vests. And so, since he never trusted the quality of the vests, he never wore them not once during the 59 encounters he carried on. Like many others in the force, Additional CP Ashok Kamte and ATS Chief Hemant Karkare had no idea of such a probe. Both died due to SLR bullet injuries the bullets had penetrated their vests.

    Ashish Gupta, an IPS from UP and 89 batch alumni from IIM-C writes – You will be surprised to know that even today many of our police stations do not have vehicles. As for connectivity amongst police stations, while police stations (PS) have radio communication sets (RT sets), in some States the PS do not have an extra battery to keep the sets working – this means that they switch open their RT sets every two hours to check if there is any event of any consequence! !! This is when even the poor in our country can afford mobile sets!!! This is the state of policing in 21st century India. Hats off!!!

    The people governing have screwed this country left, right and center. They didn’t even leave the coffins meant for dead soldiers from the Kargil war. I bet there is no ammunition worth firing in a state of war and that is the reason our leadership goes pu$$y licking the pakis every time there is an attack on Indian city!

  6. And the most inefficient Chief minister still hangs on.

    Courtesy: Weak Congress and its weak and impotent leaders who are unfortunately leading this country in the hour of crisis. There is no sense of responsibility in the ruling coalition.
    Here the full form of ruling coalition is
    UPA = United Pigs Alliance

    “”Congress continues to wrestle with the sacking of Vilasrao Deshmukh as chief minister of Maharashtra after the Mumbai terror attacks amid intense lobbying for his continuation, triggering fears that it could neutralise the “accountability” plank which the party brass had opted for to oust Union home minister Shivraj Patil.””

    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Cong_drags_feet_Vilasrao_may_hang_on/articleshow/3785458.cms

  7. says: NITYIN

    Look at the terror pattern below:

    13 May ——– JAIPUR
    June ——————-
    26 July ———— AHMEDABAD
    August —————————
    13 September ———— DELHI
    October ————————-
    26 November ————— MUMBAI
    December —————————-
    13 January —————– What Next?

  8. says: NITYIN

    How our netas are well protected where as people are getting killed like dogs on streets of India. People at risk but hundreds of crores to protect netas

    Over 250 crores are spent annually on VIP security!!! 250 damn crores in a country like India where the main weapon of the police constabulary is a danda and occassional 303 rifle. Common man policing is still in the hands of 19th century weaponary.

    And to top it all, CM of Kerala had the cheek to say to the father of shaheed Major Sandeep, No dog would have come to his house if the major would have not died!

    Do we need to spend 250 crores every year to protect such bloody idiots!!!

  9. says: Ravi Sadana

    Friends,

    It’s time now to think and redefine certain fundamentals. What do we Indians want for future?
    If you look around, countries with ‘strong centres” are strong. China, with their strong central governing committee, America with a very strong president. Central strength gives a country a direction, a momentum. Democratic tradition is great, it comes with “capitalism”, but remember, it’ has a huge overhead and waste, not to mention corruption, which a developing country cannot afford. Playing politics, committees and bickering, deal-making are all wasteful and keep a developing country POOR. Just look at how ELECTIONS are promoted with personal agendas, country be doomed!

    Look at where Russia is going? They tried a wasteful open democracy and capitalistic corruption took the country over. They got nowhere. Who comes along? Putin, a strong man, a central man. Russia today, as a world power, it is making progress (oil riches helped) but there was a shift in policy to A STRONG CENTRE.

    Objectvely, examine where China is today as compared to where India is today. (Both started about the same time 1949 versus 1947). Surely, we have enjoyed democratic freedom, but the price we have paid is the difference between China’s strength and India’s strength today.

    I AM NOT AGAINST DEMOCRACY. It comes with a price which a developing country can’t afford. A STRONG CENTRE is the compromise. It helps a country develop faster and eradicate poverty. Sure some people suffer in freedoms.
    But aren’t people suffering in Mumbai today? 500 million Indians live in abject poverty. Aren’t they suffering? What’s the price paid since 1947?

    India needs it; it’s an imperative for SURVIVAL. Let’s plan how this can be brought about within the democratic process. Certain compromises will have to be made. Sacrifices will have to be made. Just look at CHINA! China is challenging US in economic development; Soon it will be challenging the US, militarily. The west sticks Tiannamen Square incident in their face (basic human rights). That’s a very small price to what they have achieved in short time.

    That’s why, USA is building a missle defence perimeter on the western borders of RUSSA!
    They know that eventually Chinese force will prevail upon RUSSIA or the two will form a treaty.
    PLANNING FOR FUTURE!

    IT’S TIME TO THINK AND PLAN A NEW POLICY FOR INDIA’S SURVIVAL.

    In the next year or two, the theatre of active war with US planes dropping bombs openly will be PAKISTAN. NATO forces(embassies) are already operating quietly gathering intelligence.
    Pakistan is fast becoming fandamentalist. The civil government is not going to last.
    27% of world population will being incited to commit acts of terror against the 73%.

    Who is laughing today? The Chinese! On each limb and every branch of the “Tree of Strength”, the OAK!

    Ravi Sadana.

  10. says: NITYIN

    I believe life is back to normal for the neta class and junta class. The political class will not prosecute or pursue high-profile cases of terrorism, businessmen will maintain links with the underworld, the police is more concerned with collecting bribes than with maintaining law and order, the media has no qualms about lionising celebrities who have been convicted in important cases. Daggers are already out in Maharashtra over the CM ki kursi issue. Our netas are again behaving like mad dogs. In between all this, someone somewhere in their dark cold caves is planning murder and mayhem on Indian streets!

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