Yesterday (November 27th, 2008) I woke up to a headline that read “It’s WAR on Mumbai” in Times of India. Not having known the developments through the night, initial reaction was not again. Mumbai has seen its more than its share of terror attacks and in recent past, 1993 Bomb blasts, 2005 floods, 2006 11/7 blasts to name a few.

But this was different. Such an onslaught has not been witnessed in this part of India before. Yes, we have witnessed such acts in Jammu & Kashmir and on the eastern frontiers. Even on the western side, 2002 Godhra riots caused a stir. This particular attack happened to strike in the heart of the country. The locations were carefully chosen. 3 prime locations:

1. The Taj,
2. Cafe Leopold (near Nariman House),
3. Oberoi Trident.

Coupled with the fact that the elite community of the super rich and powerful frequent these places, makes it even more dumbfounding. Life is so vulnerable. One minute you are happy and gay and enjoying life, and fighting for the survival the very next, at the mercy of some disoriented people who could be your would be executioners. Death was staring right in the faces of hostages, but at the same time, they did not know if they will survive the ordeal.

This was an all out WAR on India and what makes it appalling is the audacity and the ease with which it was carried out!

As it turns out, the assailants (the total number of which is still unclear) came right through Gateway of India, carrying arms in tow and spread across pre-selected locations and started their attack. One would think that gaining entry into India would be difficult without being noticed, but that ain’t the case. A group of terrorists descended onto Gateway of India, carried their weapons in rucksacks and just stroll into The Taj right opposite and initiated the attack! Sounds as simple as:

1. Show on Gateway of India.
2. Stroll across the street.
3. Start firing!!!

This makes you shout out loud WHAT THE F*#@K!!!

Still some of us believed that this will pass, like the other attacks have, but again, this was not to be! It took a good 48 hours, numerous innocent, some brave Indian lives before which the situation was declared under control at the Oberoi Trident and Nariman House. At this point, as the news reported, there still was one assailant inside the Taj.

Speaking of the “news” channel, well, there is nothing much to speak about them. They were acting as if they had been hired by the perpetrators to provide them with valid intelligence of what is going on in the outside world, once they took their positions inside the chosen locations. It has been reported that these terrorists were also armed with BlackBerry devices and were using them to monitor the media reports as they came out.

The so called journalists were only interested in one thing: “Get the story out before anyone else report it”. “Get new facts at any cost”. Even if it means sacrificing the clueless hostages inside. While watching Times Now this evening, I heard Arnab Goswami pointing out the fact that his team out at the scene near Nariman House was the first to report fresh data atleast 3-4 times in succession. Is that all this is about? Ratings? Is this the freedom of choice as we known it? Is this what they called journalism? Are there no ethics, no common sense of what to show and what not to show?

One would think that Mumbai having experienced quite a few terror attacks in the past, and all the illustrious ATS, POTA, MCOCA and what not, will be well equipped to snub out such an attack even before it began! However, facts are far from that.

This is a country where everything is politicized. Politicians, well most of them, have only one agenda of making money. What do you expect of a guy who has to buy the ticket to contest for almost Rs. 3 Crore INR, plus spend almost the same amount on campaigning to get the votes to be elected. What he will do when he wins is anybody’s guess.

As pointed out during an discussion on NewsX, and rightly so, politicians will interfere with functioning of law enforcement bodies, shunt around officers. These same people get reports from all kinds of committees which provide information about how to improve the forces, services, whatever, in painstaking detail.

One, they do not implement the suggestions provided by experts; two they poke their noses where they don’t belong; and when something like this happens, just point the finger at the in-efficacy of the forces.

There is not one thing that plagues India, there are umpteen issues. This attack has just brought out a few here! If this continues, well it better stop now.

WE ARE THE CHANGE THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO THIS COUNTRY!!!