26/11 and the Ensuing Hypocrisy

This 26^th November marked the sixth anniversary of the ghastly terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Though not the first in the maximum city, these attacks were vastly different from the others in their sheer scale and audacity.

The terrifying, bullet - spraying spree of the armed fanatics in the southern end of the city sent tremors to the city. The terrorists not only hijacked the iconic landmarks but managed to siege the entire city all at one time. It took the security forces including the NSG commandos (the elite force created for such hostilities in the country) more than 60 hours to save Mumbai from hell. The world froze with the tremor at the most brazen attack of terrorism post 9/11 in US (for some reason US is the benchmark for everything and now even terrorism). As per the official release, a total of 166 individuals lost their lives, more than 350 were injured and millions traumatized.

Ask any Mumbaikar about the incident and the wounds are there to see. And most importantly, it’s not meant to be forgotten for multiple reasons.  I am sure this will raise some eyebrows (and fists as well) towards me. But before you jump to any conclusions (and knuckle your fists and snarl at me) let me explain you few things.

Equality amongst the Dead Matters

Every 26/11 anniversary, all the media houses, politicians (including the President and Prime Minister), members of the civil society, police force, celebrities among others remember and recall this day with profound grief and sorrow. Why? Is it because elite were targeted? Then shouldn’t you ask aren’t those lives which were lost in train and bus attacks or in smaller towns equally important? Then why not remember and recall them all?

Cost to keep a Terrorist Safe

Next, the government spent crores of rupees to keep Ajmal Kasab alive (the only terrorist amongst the ten, who was caught alive) citing him as the most critical link of this deathly act. So worried was the government about his safety and security, that the first monorail in the country (Chembur to Jacob Circle via Wadala) had to alter its route near Arthur Road jail (Kasab forces Maharashtra government to change Monorail route – Times of India, 9^th February, 2010). This de – route came at a cost to the state - exchequer in excess of Rs.40 crore. If such was the importance of this man for the trial, then why did the government execute him even before the case is resolved? Also, the government kept harping about human rights and an opportunity to give a fair trial to Ajmal Kasab, then where did it all go? To heaven (I mean hell!).

The Pakistan Connect & US Disconnect

Since the government is so sure of the involvement of Pakistan in this act, why not deal with them directly? Why involve the US? Or rather, why allow US to be a party to this trial? For information, reach out to Interpol, the biggest intelligence agency, why US? In fact, US (as usual) is playing the role of a foe rather than a friend. It has held back the extraction of the supposedly most important man David Headley to India (America Sacrificed Mumbai to keep Headley in play – Times of India, 14^th November, 2013). David Headley, who is a CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) operative (born in Pakistan), was in Mumbai for a long time before the attacks (and sneaked out before the incident) and the US intelligence claims it send out threat perception to Mumbai. Headley is also closely linked to LeT (Lashkar-e-Toiba). The question to be asked here; why is US (which shows so much keenness in resolving terror issues worldwide) is not allowing India to access Headley for questioning? What does this say about the intentions of US?

Empty Vessels: Too Much Noise

Also, what is the role being played by public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam? His interview in Hindustan Times of 26^th November, 2014 talks of everything but the pending issues in this case. When he boasts so much about his tenacity and work (empty vessels make more noise), why is he not raising the correct questions?

Fear leads to increase in Defence Budget

By invoking the attacks time and again, by not allowing access to Headley, by letting the case to go on, by creating an atmosphere of fear, the administration wants to keep the society under strict control and surveillance. Remember, the big ticket defence deals will not happen if there is no threat perception. India was the top buyer of weapons in 2013 as per the article in Washington Post (Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/11/18/chart-the-top-buyers-and-sellers-in-the-global-arms-race). Presently, the country’s annual defence budget is in excess of Rs.2,50,000 cr and rising each year (and we criticize a paltry subsidy on food and fertilizer which is the basic need of 2/3^rd of country’s population).

Are we Really Oblivious or We Don’t Care

Unfortunately, majority of the population is too illiterate to understand (globally literacy is associated with certificates and not the ability to think and question), or too occupied in their own world and the representatives who are supposed to do this for the citizens are least interested and are too concerned of their own well being.

Note:  This case (and many other such cases globally) are never meant to be resolved. They are only to be sustained. Its time you WAKE UP and BE AWARE and QUESTION.