I do NOT understand how Mr. Advani, head of the opposition, has not failed to turn today's dastardly and horrific acts of terrorism into "how this is worse than what happened during our regime".
Actually, I can. WHICH is what upsets me more than anything.
What kind of a country is this? This country which so proudly beats its chest and asks for the world to notice her coming out, can allow for it's policemen to go into a combat situation without ANY sort of specialized equipment. THIS when the terrorists are carrying on them not only AK-47s and rocket launchers but also hi tech satellite equipment.
ATS Chief Hemant Karkare and more than fifteen other policemen lost their lives today. It is the ATT and the NSG and the local Mumbai police force along with the media who have spent the entire twenty four odd hours since the first blasts AT the site. Not a single member of the state government was found anywhere around these places. Not at the hospitals, not at the hotels. Tomorrow however they will come out to applaud the "spirit of Mumbai" and continue to question why the army men are giving the ration they are given and why they are paid so much.
Over 150 people would have lost their lives before the day ends. Scores others are lying in hospitals across the city, hurt. Each of the 1.1 billion people of this country are not only hurt too, but also angry.
I HATE that we have become a country that is run by politicians who are only worried about the "next election". I HATE that we do not have the decency and caliber to honor and immortalize these soldiers of ours. I HATE that twenty odd "boys" can hold a nation as large as ours at gun point.
I HATE that everyone will forget this happened and how ill prepared we are as a country, until something like this happens again in four months time.
I do NOT know what I can do to change things as yet. But I swear, I'm going to figure it out.
I agree. Although, as this article points out, it's hard for any city to deal with an attack like this.
And I don't think a facebook group will solve anything.
Kaushik
I get it Koze, which is why I deleted it. I just HAD to do something.
This is not the first time in the past two days that I've wished I was part of the NSG.
SG.
Well in a way i am happy that none of the ministers were there in any of those places... With all the security measures that they need, i think it is better they are away from these places instead of getting in the way of the ppl doing their work.. They anyways have most of the 5 years to do that (getting in the way of ppl doing their work that is).
*looks lost for words and for ways to make an impact*
i really feel useless right now.
I felt exactly the same. The least I could do was donate blood. I tried contacting local blood banks but did not get any information about the blood groups they needed. They said we haven't received any requirements as of now! I was overwhelmed by the emotion but yet couldn't do anything.
I totally agree about the extreme unpreparedness of the government. We can't compromise on the lives of our valiant soldiers and policemen fighting for the country. While the politicians have Z, Z+ securities, the common man is left defenceless in the face of such mindless atrocities.
I am with you on making a difference. To start with, we are all going to wear black on Monday to work/college as a show of solidarity and mark of protest. Secondly, at an individual level, we can all file RTIs to know where exactly is our budget for internal security being spent. I think we can't let it rest now, we CANNOT allow them to forget. It is sad that we have to call our politicans 'them' when they are supposed to be our representatives. If you have any bright idea, I am with you on it.
its a shame.. the security personnel did so so much work.. it was heartening to see that the people at nariman house actually came out to support them albeit at the wrong time.. but its the thought that counts...
its maniacal the ease with which they got into the city and how little we're spending on yes u can guess it HOMELAND SECURITY.. we crack a tonne load of jokes at the Americans about they're paranoia.. at the moment im actually seeing why they're paranoid..
oh and i agree about the RTI's
I totally second your thoughts on this issue. Enough is enough. Now is the time to come up with concrete solutions. We cannot wish terrorism away.
For starters we could file PIL against the govt for being so inept at handling the situation. RTI is a very good idea as well. There is a desperate need for the political system to change because for how long will we chose the lesser evil? There has to be a bipartisan govt of sorts in the long run to eliminate vote bank politics and reorient the priorities to larger and more pressing issues like security and defence. I say, what good is a country which can't protect its own citizens??
I wish you all the best for your quest because this has no easy solutions as I realised. But its not impossible.