A year back, I was going through a community in a networking site, when news trickled in that there is a gunfire in Mumbai. Initially, I thought it might be a gang war. As minutes went and I turned to news channels the severity of the night dawned. Next 60 hours was an emotionally harrowing, mind numbing experience for Indians and Mumbai was the focus of the whole world. It all took 10 brainwashed, well armed young men from across the border to unleash mindless terror and kill 164 lives. We lost valiant cops, we lost clueless common men, we lost children. Unsung heroes emerged. Constable Ombale gave his life valiantly to capture the sole surviving terrorist. Ordinary men and women gave their life to secure others. Nation shocked. We lit candles (it has become the current fad) Nation mourned but life went by.
Soon after 26/11 politicians made big talks. Heads rolled. CM of Maharashtra removed. Home minister made scapegoat. Plethora of grand plans announced to make Mumbai and India safe.
One year later…
Did we learn our lessons from the tragic event? I doubt…
Vilasaroa Deshmukh, the then CM of Maharashtra is an Union minister now. I wonder if it is promotion or demotion. From state politics to Center does sound like a promotion to me.
R.R Patil who infamously made the comment “Bade shehron main aisi bate hoti hai” is back as the home minister of Maharashtra. If he has to be reinstated now, why remove him then? Or does the government thinks that the public memory is too short? Unfortunately seems like the politicians got it right on that assessment.
SRPF (State Reserve Police Force) Jawans meant to protect Taj were made to stay like squatters in India Gate. When the media exposed the sorry state of accommodation given to the Jawans, the CM of Maharashtra makes a statement “there is no place to house the policemen”. What happened next? cops of Colabo station “evacuated” the Jawans and their belongings from gateway of India to the sidewalks and told to spend the night on the road till alternate arrangement were made. Check the story here
I was watching CNN IBN citizen journalist programme which exposed glaring security loopholes in various parts of the city across India – Security cameras installed post 26/11 in market places but no one to monitor the screens and unmanned security screening machines.
I don’t know if things have changed or not, I am not sure if Indians are feeling safer post 26/11 security arrangements but the news that I came across does not give me confidence but yes life goes on. We can only hope we are “lucky” enough and 26/11 is not repeated again.
TOI headlines mentions that it has cost Rs.31 crores to keep Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist, alive and safe. Dammit! He sure is the most protected and well safe person in India now.
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elections over…all promises can be forgotten. We will make human chains, lit candles go home and forget till next year…!!!