Mumbai Attacks

By Prashant Guha

In the changing scenario as our country progresses towards the new dawn of 61st year of its independence, another shameful episode leaves the nation in shambles. The Mumbai mishap on 26th – 27th Nov 2008 shows how strong our civil administration is. This episode has been a bare slap on the nation’s security. Militancy in parts like J & K and eastern sector is still desirable as we share our boundaries with our allies but our business capital?

Yet again, this raises the questions like - Are we really safe in our own country? Is our nation so weak that a band of some anti-social elements trying to assert the terror (that they have adopted as a religion,) walk into our territory, unquestioned and create so much of havoc and all that our government authorities can do is wait and watch? Is this our NATIONAL SECURITY?

The Real Picture – A ship called VM ULFA came from Karachi and harbored at the Mumbai civil dock for a week and was expected to carry militants across the border. It is also known that the weapons and machinery were transported from the ship to the desired locations and then to Hotel Taj and The Oberoi. An obviously controversial yet logical conclusion can be derived- that this sort of planned incursion has had to have people within our administration involved, as there was apparent knowledge about the holes in security and such weapons of mass destruction cannot reach a place (like the hotels mentioned above) without security checks. 

This shows how loyal the civil administration is to our National Security. Who is to be blamed for this? The government or the administration? The common man is exposed to the hands of people who he has nothing to do with. The police fails as they are not well equipped and they lack the required skills. And again, the reserved forces who are part of the so called Home Ministry, which thoroughly responsible for the internal security of the country fail.

Why do they exist? What is the aim of having a mass of unskilled people who are paid to do this work and are still so inefficient...

Eventually, like always the government banks upon the Para Military Forces- The Indian Army and Naval Commandos have been called to fight this series of terror. Is this what are they paid for - to fend internal terror attacks or to guard the nation from external issues that violate the security of the nation. The role reversal shows that how strong the Armed Forces are, and that they don't just handle their job but also that of civil administration. The crux of the matter is that we need to ask ourselves and analyze the world are we living in.
Are we safe in our own houses? With what feelings do we trust our Civil Administration? Its better we have Military rule in our country also. At least we will be safe. Some time back some one argued saying that India can never sustain Military rule and if such incidents take place its fine as it does happen but I’d like to raise a question to you all -- “If everyday 100 people start dying devastating and terrifying deaths like this then when would you prefer to die? The first day or the thirtieth day or the Three Hundred Sixty Fifth Day?” 

edited by Kanica Soni