Decade-nce

Ten days since the blasts in Mumbai.

I received the invitation to be a part of this forum, from Dan on the 12th. On hindsight now, what emerges crystal clear is that machinations towards censorship were in place, even prior to widespread banning , which explains why, each time, registration failed to come through until yesterday.

There have been cries of 'democracy and freedom of speech under seige' and rightly so, across the board, against the unfair, arbitrary blocking of blogs, by those to who the voice of the common man seems a threat.

One wishes that this kind of alacrity had been displayed in arresting terrorists and their nefarious activities, this past decade or more. Without indulging in hyperbole, one can safely assert that thousands upon thousands of innocent lives would have been spared. The humiliating juncture of having to curb/stifle the voices of well meaning citizens would not have arisen!

That the masterminds behind this censorship have failed miserably in pre-empting , planning and execution, yet again, is plainly evident from the fact that nothing stopped me from writing and deterred you from reading the blogs supposedly banned. If terrorism be a hydra headed monster as oft repeated, then the voice of righteousness can boast of the same if not more. Despite subscribing to the wisdom of compassion, patience, tolerance generally, this is one war, it seems, which Indians are willing to fight till the end.

A seemingly innocuous visual of a dappled railway map of Mumbai, indicating the blast sites, in reality speak of a horrendous massacre,which begs to be the last of its kind in Mumbai, India and the world. In the war between Good and Evil, our scriptures decree success for Good.Its time that this truism attain reality.

The rationale behind censorship was allegedly an attempt to curb terrorist communication,seemingly ridiculous, especially considering that the bullet had long left the gun. But also how does one then understand the interception of the BBC/NEWS HAVE YOUR SAY page which dealt with Mumbal blasts??

So , in other words when POLITICAL WILL is present even a daunting task of censorship to this level is made tangible. Whilst the absence of it has nurtured/harboured/encouraged terrorists to have sway over India.. to the extent of conducting proxy warfare, as and to their whim. If the powers who be think that they are pulling wool over our eyes by pledging innocence, then they are at best deceiving themselves into believing that the public is a bunch of morons susceptible to manipulation.

It beehooves one to claim with certainty that those who could have averted the MASSACRE of the train blast were either not allowed to perform their jobs with a free hand OR that it entailed a section of elitist individuals to be embarassed by the revelations which emerge. Either way it was the commuter, man, woman, child who was found lying dead, maimed, ripped apart, on platforms and tracks.

This incident has once again proven unreservedly and beyond all doubt that statements such as 'caught off guard' and 'despite best efforts' or such like by the officials are not as jejune as they appear. It is clearly a case of the Intelligence or those responsible, not having lived up to the challenge of providing Mumbai, the city with the highest tax payers and the economic hub, the security it DESERVED.

What gains can accrue from censorship at this stage is not only a fruitless exercise to analyse but an infuriating one as well.

If anyhing, the terrorists, languishing in jails for the past 14 years, cleverly manipulating the lacunae of the Judicial system and its laxity, should be publicly flogged. Where is the justice in providing justice to those who have broken every law
with impunity and irreverence? Justice, innately connotes, that the guilty be brought to book and the innocent be avenged. How can justice apply to those who punish the innocent and serve the guilty???

India has become a laughing stock,not so much by virtue of dealing shabbily and ineffectively with the growing menace of terrorist and their activities, but more because of insiduous suggestions that warnings had gone unheeded and unchecked.A nagging doubt that this event was a phenomena which could have been snuffed out at the initial stages itself with finality.

The shaming incident of a foreigner raped in Jaipur, captured the indignation of the citizen of India who spared no effort to raise a hue and cry in demand for justice. Within 15 days, the guilty was arrested, indicted and sentenced with life.

Now juxtapose this on a scenario where those arrested for bombings of 1993, have been either freed for lack of evidence or are yet in jail, for the last 13 years, enjoying the snails pace of Indian judiciary which is adopted in cases where clout commands proceedings. Either that or the fact that the Judiciary is not as independent as averred. The Legislature,Political Officialdom has handcuffed Justice.

EXEMPLARY PUNISHMENT to the accused ( in the event of their unlikely capture, if current goings on are any indication) is the CRY of the hour. A signal needs to be sent out loud and clear to those who harbour plans of spreading carnage in India that we do not take kindly to insurgency. That heads will roll, if need be. That fighting against terrorism is of National concern, to one and all . That progress will not and cannot be stalled. If India is posited to be at the brink of an economic and progressive breakthrough, then that which has been envisaged, will occur. That an enemy will be hounded, and caught, no matter who its benefactors. That U.S.A. effectively prove its uprightness by disengaging in both double-speak and supply of arms to China and Pakistan. That Pakistan honour its promises and stop shielding terrorists w.e.f NOW!!

Because India has risen! (as this forum inherently suggests)