Tuesday, December 2, 2008

The week after.....

I wasn’t planning to put this on this blog as I have avoided political writings but I have read and heard that I want my views known. I will classify this as social and so post just one of my views on this whole saga.

The smoke from the Taj has now vanished and replaced by intense protests by the man on the street (only these people do not stay there they are just referred to as being on the streets). Almost as if they were so bored of watching TV for almost 60 hours that they had to come out. On the streets.

All are angry at our Politicians and Pakistan (P factors). I decline to comment on our politicians and their role in this tragedy but I do have a view on Pakistan and its supposed role but I will not put it down here. Some are also very vocal about the Muslim community but again I will ignore that here.

I do understand the anger of the people who are pointing fingers at the P factors but can we look inwards please? There were only 10 terrorists. I repeat, 10 of them. Does anyone for any second think that they did not have accomplices, co-conspirators, or were not helped knowingly or unknowingly by others who believe it or not have to be Indians ?

They all had bank accounts and operated credit cards. Now it is not possible under Indian banking laws to open bank accounts without an existing account holder of that branch introducing that customer. Was that procedure followed? If yes then can we now question the person who introduced these terrorists to the bank? Or if not, then can we press charges against the account officers who either through sheer negligence or through bribe violated this very important aspect of KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures that all banks are supposed to follow? Surely the officers were not directly acting on instructions of Zardari or Patil or Deshmukh?

Where did they stay on their reconnaissance missions to India?. How did they get fake ID cards, who verified their addresses? Can we now start investigating the lead backwards and start booking (for assisting terrorists) all the people who have been negligent in their duties and directly or indirectly helped the terrorists plan for months without getting caught. I am sure if a thorough investigation is made we could have up to 50 people in the net. Make an example of these. Book them on charges of assisting terrorism. The so called logistic support from “outside” was actually executed in our own land by our own people.

It appears that illegal landings have been taking place in that fisherman’s area for long and that includes smuggled goods. Surely the police know this? And have been blessing it in return for their haftas? Haven’t these smart terrorists used this to their advantage ? What has Pakistan got do with this hafta vasuli system?

In the 1993 Bombay bomb blasts the custom officer that allowed the RDX to get through was an Indian (and a hindu) and the police team that caught the arms and RDX truck but then let it go by taking bribes was also from India (and hindus).

Our system is so corrupt that it is easy to exploit. Our borders at Assam and Bangladesh are open not because they cant be closed but because keeping them open allows import of voters, smuggled goods and several other benefits. Why do we assume that others with vested interests (be it Pakistan or anyone else) will not use this porous borders for their own agenda and benefits. Its called Bahti ganga mein haath dhona.

The terrorists have partially succeeded. Their timing was right just a year before the elections so that we can all deepen the communal divide further as the great Indian Vote Bank does good business (probably the only bank in the world doing so). The real success of terrorists will happen when we blame Pakistan and continue to ignore our own backyard (actually it’s the whole house now).

The problems and the solutions lie within us. The solutions are there to be found. All we need is to acknowledge the problems that are within us. Enough of self denial and self delusion. Lets turn that finger towards ourselves. And PROBE. The truth about the extent of our own negligence will shock us all.

But who wants the truth anyway? Isn’t it better for all to just point the finger at Pakistan and get back to watching the soap operas again on TV until the time another such tragedy happens so that we can get back to the 649 news channels again.

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