What now?!
First we heard they have received an email from Deccan Mujaheddin, now it is Lashkar ai taiba, who came in a boat from Karachi. Whoever it is, this looks more more like war, than terrorism. I hope all our political leaders react to this 'war like situation' with maturity. Have not heard any blame game as of now, which is a relief.
PM is holding an emergency meeting. Track Mumbai attacks here.
Some blogs remind us that this is not the time for politicking, others are pained to tears, some keep sanity, like this one . This is a time for all of us to remember that, 'Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it.'
We are all Indians first and foremost. Don't let anybody convince you otherwise.
Just like I refused to condemn anyone who had not been convicted, in an earlier post, I refuse to politicize this now. Let this country fight the enemy instead of fighting each other. I agree with Obama who says, “ ...We stand with the people of India, whose democracy will prove far more resilient than the hateful ideology that led to these attacks.”
And let us also spare a moment for those who have died in these attacks, including ATS chief, Hemant Karkare.
Edited to add: So do you believe POTA is the answer to all our terrorist problems? Do read, So You Want Terrorists To Be Tortured?
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26 comments:
its such a relief to see your post...was so worried for you and many more friends who stay in Bombay.
Am also trying to hold back my tears....we kill Somalian pirates and allow terrorists to enter our cities....what are we doing???
Hey IHM,
what is happening is really scary...
this year alone, India has been targeted a lot by these cowards...
what do you think about POTA and others such laws....
Maybe it is time, we actually brought them back....
From last night (when I saw a largest police force in Mulund, mumbai)... I have been thinking this over...
We need to do something now..
this whole thing is sickening...its high time we stand up together like a country and fight it... if dont know we will never be able to
may their soul rest in peace.
and i find it difficult not to think that there is politics playing a much bigger hand than religion this time...
a smoke screen for malegaon perhaps? just how convenient it is that the ATS head who is making Purohit sing dies at point blank range?!
but yes, we will survive this too... but why do we have to keep proving our resilience ALL the time?!
i am so terribly hurt. mumbai is my city and to see it torn apart like this was the worst thing till date...
abha
I wish they had taken a few politicians or their families also as hostages. Only then would our cities get better security.
@Ajit - Laws like POTA really don't help - all they do is give a lot of powers to a poorly trained, stressed and corrupt police force to ignore due process. Intelligence, investigation and co-ordination (as well as overall training) are very poor in the Indian law enforcement establishment; perhaps these aspects need to be spruced at, rather than bringing in Draconian laws that will most certainly be misused.
I had written on a similar issue some time ago; here's the link:
http://quirkyindian.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/so-you-want-terrorists-to-be-tortured/
Quirky Indian
http://quirkyindian.wordpress.com
Shocked still. I did not have net connection since last night. The first thing I do when I get it is to log on and make straight for your page.Yeah you are right. 'Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it.'
Hope M'm you all are fine.
There should not be any difference between war & fighting terrorist. Intensity of such a tregedy should not be judged by number of people died. It's time our state ( that includes those of different opinion than govt) and citizens show toughest attitude towards terrorist.
No blame game so far, which is indeed a positive sign and PM & Advani will go Mumbai together, that's also a good sign (http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/nov/27sheela-advani-to-visit-mumbai-with-pm.htm).( Though, I am skeptical, if Raj,Raj's Uncle and their clans would show such gestures)
Only toughest measure (irrespective of where it takes place, who's behind it) could be, in a little way, a tribute to those precious lives lost.
Yes, we can have those weeds rooted out, INSALLAH.
@IHM and quirky Indian,
I know POTA is a draconian law, I know that we would be better off without it and I also agree that our law enforcement agencies should improve....
but the question in my mind is simple:
what are we going to do about it?
we have been continously targeted for a long time now, but what are we doing.... (my guess is as good as yours)......
@ Pinku We are fine ... we are a laid back nation. Kids wanted to go to school, thankfully they are closed! In Colaba my freind was awake all night listening to gun shots, shell-shocked.
@Ajit Any government or investigating agencies will love something like POTA, TADA or MISA to lock up anybody who they wish to keep quiet. Why do we need laws that allow unlimited powers to those we don't even trust, to control terrorism? America does not have such laws and they have managed very well after 9/11.
Do we have to die - either as free citizens or as innocent convicted of crimes we know nothing about? Will do a post on what kind of powers POTA gives to the government... it is just like MISA during Emergency.
What we do need is more vigilance, and accountability. And a lot of common sense, shouldn't it have been obvious that the sea side was the easiest way to get into this country ....
Monika Monnika that is the only way, we should stop fighting with each other then we will have the time to fight the terrorists. We will :)
Mama Mia You are astute!! You always manage to read between the lines - the thought came to my mind too, hence I mentioned the name at the last moment...
I heart Mumbai too, and have a hard lumpy feeling in my chest since this has started.
Priyanka Yes, I wish that too :) Really do!
Quirky Indian I agree,will link this post of yours. Thanks :)
Shail I am still trying to understand exactly what has happened. And it is a thickly populated, residential cum shopping cum offices area!
Z@kir-R We are fine, thank you :)
Yes, they seem to be behaving in a matured manner. I am sure we will be able to control the situation, if they continue like this and kind of put Nation before politics.
glad to see you safe.
I am glad u r fine. I am shocked & numb with the audacity of these attacks.
IT'S A WAR
A full-scale war in disguise of a proxy war.
I so agree with you and Mama Mia in the odd way Hemant Karkare died. 200 Commandos in Mumbai, ATS, Police as well as the Army working for the past 12 hours and still they have not been able to overcome the terrorists??? I am stunned at the slow pace of operations here. This shows the sad level of expertise on our defence front.
We are all torn from inside...
Reminds me of those gunshots we heard in Punjab in our teenage days..
The experience is too much for words IHM.
Thanks for the post.
HOpe peace prevails.
.Thank you for the calming post. I was numbed sad and angry watching the TV pictures of 'war on Mumbai'.
Can you correct something you commented? USA had promulgated a drastic law, which was very controversial after the 9/11
Good to hear from you, was worried. As for the the blasts, I think our India has become a joke. No more comments.
I am so glad you are safe. All I can think is - Humare bacchon ko yeh kya hua hai, what's happening to us and our country? It is a sad time ........
we really need to plug the loop holes on our security systems. Mobilize every army, every security force to flush out such people who have doubtful credentials.How can so many people carrying so many arms enter a building just like that?
May all the brave officers' souls rest in peace.
Mama - Mia,
You're not alone with that thought. You can read similar thoughts here.
Priyanka,
That had happened with Mehbooba Mufti before. Everything one suggests, History already has a parallel for.
Amit Varma was in the area too. Here's his take.
What now indeed!
The beginning of the end of the siege is what started flashing, a few minutes after I got home this evening... and I stayed glued to the TV.. just hoping, praying, and kind of urging our forces in there, police, ATS, NSG, MarCos.. to get them out, the hostages, and get the others down. Seemingly, it does not seem to even begin to end.
And watching re caps of the news of the death of top officials is just as horrifying. God rest their souls in peace.
Just heard, on NDTV, one of those rescued, Deepak, who spoke of a virtual massacre of sorts of trainees on the floors below, near the kitchen... I decided to move away, for a while, but I am wondering, praying that the trauma comes to a close, a defining close for the terrorists and a happy one for the hostages.
If only, even in these moments, the sensationalizing would cease.. the least tht the media could do perhaps? And we still don't "have a sense" of ground zero numbers.
scary stuff, i tell u...terrorists are beginning to freak me out...
loved ur line "Let this country fight the enemy instead of fighting each other."
mandira
Hello from Boston, USA. Thank you for this blog, and all of you should know our hearts (worldwide!!) are with India today! I'm watching CNN International as we speak, and they are saying there are still terrorists hold up in 3 areas. (A few, here and there.) Israeli commandoes, they say, are soon to storm the Jewish center. Imagine, Israel can fly commandoes in from God knows where at any given moment!! I guess the Indian authorities are being careful, don't want to injure hostages. Who knows, but this has gone on for FAR too long. As for USA after 9/11, the shrub (bush) administration bamboozled us into going along with The Patriot Act!!! We lost ALL our rights!!! Don't let your government do that to you!!! Thankfully, we now have Obama in charge -- Counting the days until January 20th!!!!! From my standpoint, Pakistan is slowly becoming a failed state. The whole western part of Pakistan is controlled by a mixed bag of sub-human nutjobs!!! Again, our hearts are with you, India!!!! Goodness will win out in the end!!!!
The trauma is not yet over... coming to an end though, the final assault on the terrorists going on, say the news channels. Still when is this trauma ever going to free the minds of those who had been part of it, either in some direct way and more so, in an indirect way... the children, for example. Though they are resilient and have that idealism of youth.. how will they live through the anticipation of more coming!!!
You are so very right. It's not about politicizing the act, and that is why I suppose, Raj Thackeray is nowhere to be see? No mileage out of this? Briefly, I think Mr Advani tried, but realized it would be futile to go down that route.. so he wisely [for a change] reserved his comments on the why and wished the operation a quick success.
And no matter what, finally, Ours is a nation that Survives... we are Resilient. Somehow the face of the everyday man/woman makes sure of that, and the well oiled mechanism of daily life goes on, till another politico tries to put a spoke in their wheels! A religious or communal spoke is the best thing that works for them!!!
Shall stop ranting now!
Its a fight we have to win. No choice. Nothing to be afraid or paranoid about. Sitting at home and cowering in fear is what the terrorists want. By living our lives normally, is the only message we can give out.
And wish and hope that our govt has the spine to stand up to terror and help rid us off this menace. If not, vote them out and let someone else who can walk the talk come in and do the cleanup.
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