Why India will continue to be raped at the hands of terrorists?

I have been keeping quiet for too long a time. Many who used to follow my blogs have been asking me why I have slumped into oblivion and not writing much. And whatever I wrote were of little consequence. Friends, Readers - I have only 2 words to give as answer. Helplessness and Selfishness. Helpless at being able to do NOTHING in the face of whatever that has been happening and Selfish enough to be attending only to my goals. There were too many things that had my full-time attention and did not find time enough to write much. But here it is finally.

Why India will continue to be raped at the hands of terrorists?

1. Because we are dumb enough to be pursuing peaceful means of responding to an act of war.

2. Because the financial interests of our bungling politicians is far too entrenched with the criminals for them to stake an action against them.

3. Because our borders are more porous than sponge and there is little being done to stem it.

4. Because we care about our image regardless of what is happening on our sovereign soil.

Until these change, there is much less scope for any less terrorist attacks.

How many cities in the recent past have seen atleast one terrorist attack? Mumbai, New Delhi, Varanasi, Coimbatore, Bangalore? I am discounting Kashmir totally. That poor state has witnessed more acts of war than the rest of the world put together. I know it could be exaggeration, but what the heck?!

And how have we responded to these attacks? We conduct peace talks with the nations against whom we have solid proof of harboring terrorists. More specifically - our "friendly" neighbour on the north western frontier. Mr. Kaskar (otherwise known as Dawood Ibrahim) has been a guest of the country for a long time now. The man principally responsible for March 1993 Serial Blasts in Mumbai. If that had happened in any American city, by now, the man's mortal remains would have been squirming in its grave. But, he is enjoying freedom, breathing free air, fully protected by the establishment. How can India go into a diaglogue with a country that hosts the man with the biggest crime charges in India? Beats me!

Back in school days, we friends used to discuss fighter planes. What US had, what UK had, what the Russians had... etc. And finally what we Indians had. We used to pride that IAF was probably among the best in the world. We used to discuss with puffed up chests that should the situation demand, IAF jets would take off from their hidden bases near Mumbai and mince-down major enemy cities within 20-30 mins. As children, we used to sit and watch the republic day parade. An astonishing display of military prowess - tanks, missiles, army etc. Of what use are these if they were meant to be a huge pile of iron? Only money being wasted on the maintenance of these.

How many more lives will it take for the Indian Government to realise and take action like what the Bush government did in 2001 after the 9/11. The US forces pummelled the enemy into submission. And their agents and secret forces are taking out anybody that they believe is just talking against them. If they can do it, why not us? Are our lives any cheaper? Does their being a major superpower change the equation anyway? If so, how come Israel is launching an all out attack against the Hezbollah?

India wants to continue its goody-two-shoes image in the eyes of US. Because of vested interests in trade and all those things. The N-deal partnership is touted as the biggest pack in Indo-US ties. It may be. But these are fine, as long as we are protecting our boundaries and our soil. But no. The argument will be that the N-deal came through only because we have been a "responsible" power in the region. Responsibility in the name of mute acceptance is no responsibility at all. The nation owes its responsibility first to its own citizens and then to anybody else.

After 9/11 in NYC or London blasts, you could notice the obvious boost in security policies, security practices etc. So many immigration laws were changed, so many airport checks were increased, so many public areas were under continuous surveillance... nothing like that happening in India except for the surveillance - which again is minimal and ineffective. Why? It all costs money. And our politicians would rather stash their money in bonds and swiss bank accounts than use it for upgrading security. Their own interests are far more well served than those of the nation. I know this does not apply to all politicians but it does apply to the absolute majority. And those in the minority (the clean ones) will not debate for the credibility of their colleagues. They know well enough.

India should no longer accept peace as a means to resolve conflict. We can only accept this much. Enough is enough. When Mumbaikars returned to normal work on the same trains, it was not the never-say-die spirit, it was helplessness. Helplessness that they could do nothing else but accept that fate. Helplessness that they did not have options other than taking the same path again. Helplessness on the awareness that their government is not going to avenge such a crime. And more such helpless feelings. Is the government happy to see this amongst their own people? Does government also believe that it is helpless against these terrorist forces? If so, they ought not to sit where they are sitting.

India should take an action that once for all sends out a statement that we can no longer be considered as silently accepting any terrorist act on our own soil. I need not specify what I mean. Ask any Indian and they will tell you. Just make sure they are not in the government. You see, they are helpless!

Also read: Rediff article by Saisuresh Sivaswamy