When I read the news item on Yahoo about terrorist atrocity in Mumbai I had a sinking feeling. Even though there have been a spate of incidents of terrorism this one is having a deep impact on me. One reason is that these people have not set a bomb and disappeared. They seem to have no care for the consequences of getting caught. They seem to be fighting till it all ends one way or the other.
On Wednesday starting at around 11.30 PST CNN covered the incidents extensively. I was a bit surprised at how India had come into this US media's view. But within a short time the mystery was solved. Much to my disgust CNN kept terming it as an attack on Americans and westerners. By that time we already knew that he number of dead were 80. There was no report of any American or Western causalities. Till the evening of Wednesday (in California) CNN kept covering it from an American centered perspective. It made me angry that they do not seem to worry about the large casualty of Indians.
That is just one instance of how we cannot take what the media gives us as facts or opinions. Coming to the reporting of our own Indian press I am getting increasingly numb at the views, speculations, rumours and politically motivated statements of out nation's leaders. I am finding it hard to comprehend these views as reported by Indian media such as NDTV, CNNIBN, Hindu, Times Of India and others.
a) Nine terrorists have been arrested. - who are these nine people. Were these people picked up while they were committing the terrorist act? Or were they rounded up from somewhere nearby based on suspicion? How did they conclude they are the terrorists?
b) They have blamed foreign hand. This has been used umpteen number of times that its hardly any clue.
c) Steven Cohen of New York Times was on Public Broadcasting Service and he claimed that a top intelligence personnel from India said that this is the work of home grown terrorists. The so called Terrorism experts of the world seem to say "This is done by people from within".
d) The boats in which they came.!! Is it so easy to come into the country!
e) Looking at the poor protection and equipment the police had I was shocked at the lack of readiness and archaic equipment of our police.
f) The horrific incident seems to be stretching for more days. I hear that not all terrorists have been accounted for! I dread to think what would happen if these guys have disappeared into the city.
g) Centre had warned the state of a possibility of attack. Off course the whole country is at a risk of attack. You do not need an intelligence agency to say this.
Ultimately this is a failure of intelligence. (As has already been pointed out). You cannot go and respond when terrorists strike. You need to know that some thing is about to happen and be effective in making sure that "something does not happen".
Now I pray that my countrymen have the good sense and will to keep in mind the following.
h) We need to treat it as an attack on India. All Indians should be included and united in the fight against this grave threat.
i) please do not bring religion into this. Reacting emotionally does not serve any good purpose. If anything it will only weaken India and its ability to tackle this disease. It will make the job easy for the terrorists. No matter how justified you feel, please do not generalise.
j) Hindus, Muslims, Christians and people from every faith must maintain close contact with each other. Even if you do not agree with their views it helps to constantly keep talking each other and engaging each other in a friendly manner.
k) Strongly condemn politicians who are trying to politicise this to achieve their own selfish ends.
l) Please do not indulge in passing judgments on a group of people be it Muslims or Hindus.
m) Please do not allow innocent people to be victimised for the crimes of a few cowards.
If we have to protect India from such heinous acts the dire need of the hour is for all us Indians to sink our differences and come together. this one statement has guided me a lot. "Every person is right from within his own framework. You do not have to agree with them. The important thing is to see the issue from their point of view." Doing this will remove a lot of misunderstandings and potential for dangerous animosity.
I believe India has exhibited great human values in the past and will do so in the present and future.
Thanks for reading.
Madhu
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