What happened in Mumbai on November 26 is the result of the years of gross neglect both by the State and the Central governments. RDX came to Mumbai in 1993 by sea after bribing the customs officials. This time terrorists came by sea after passing through the three barriers – Navy, Coast Guard and the Customs/Police officials, and none of them could stop them. Fishermen had warned and informed the Customs/Police officials but to no avail. There were reports from both the Indian and international intelligence though not very specific. The bullet-proof jackets were out-dated and defective. Number of coastal police were not adequate, nor the number of coast guard speed-boats. India has the distinction of having the largest number of terrorist hits and casualties after Iraq and Pakistan but hardly anybody has been caught, persecuted and punished in the last few years. We were saved not by the system but the bravery of the few – the police, NSG, fire brigade and the hotel staff, all ill-equipped.
Who is responsible and who is accountable ? Politicians of course, and the bureaucrats, the Navy, Coast Guard and the police too are answerable. However, the buck stops with the citizens. Why do we vote the same politicians who guard themselves but throw the people to the wolves ? Let us ask our representatives – MLAs and MPs, Ministers – what they have done to protect Mumbai and India ? Let us vote those parties who give us a concrete time-bound plan of action which should be monitored by the citizens every month or every quarter – well-equipped speed-boats, police stations etc. People should be informed about progress of this plan through the press. A citizens group should monitor, question and interact with the politicians, bureaucrats and the police. The country also needs an effective law, autonomy for police to act and enforce the law, and speedy justice.
26/11 is a call to the citizens to guard their freedom and democracy from the unresponsive governments. We have enough enlightened citizens in Mumbai and India. We have to form a body which can be called " Citizens for Guarding Freedom and Democracy."
December 4, 2008.
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