Anger, tears and despair
It is now three days since the blasts in Varanasi but I still cannot control my anger and the bile rising in my stomach.
If the whole incident was not so tragic, it would be surreal.
As explosives rocked the temple city of Varanasi, all that the Prime Minister of a nuclear power – a country that has global aspirations, that recently became the 4th largest economy in the world on a PPP-basis – could do was to appeal for calm[i].
Oh, by the way, his spokesman also said that he was “constantly monitoring the situation”.
And almost an afterthought, an insultingly banal -Â “He has condemned the blasts[ii]” (as relayed by Sanjaya Baru, his media adviser)
More than four months before, Swapan Dasgupta ominously wrote these lines in “The Pioneer” (“What cross-border terrorism? Let’s celebrate survival“), after the Diwali blasts: “The “soft state” is not merely a helpless Prime Minister, an inept Home Minister and a compromised External Affairs Minister. It is a mindset of squeamish appeasement guaranteed to ensure the victims of last Saturday’s massacre won’t be the last”[iii]
In December last year, I echoed his thoughts in my article, Four Years, Two Attacks, One Story[iv]
And so it will continue.
There may be yet another terrorist attack.
Pakistan will once again condemn it and even offer assistance in investigation.
There will be a strong “official” reaction.
A few weeks later, the police will unearth evidence that Pakistan was indeed behind the attack – and things will move on.
Nothing will change – and a few years later, we may read the same story again
Alas, I didn’t realise then that this would be so soon.
Almost exactly as I had predicted and in a sickeningly familiar pattern, this is what happened, almost phrase-by-phrase:
There may be yet another terrorist attack
Indian temple city hit by blasts[v]
Pakistan will once again condemn it
“The attack in a crowded market place is a criminal act of terrorism,” said a statement issued by the foreign ministry in Islamabad[vi].” (N.B. Use of word “market place” instead of temple courtyard)
There will be a strong “official” reaction and promises of strong action against the “culprits”
“Stern action will be initiated against all those found involved,” said Mulayam Singh Yadav, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, the state where Tuesday’s blasts occurred[vii].
“but Government will also appeal for maintaining communal harmony and peace
“People must maintain peace and calm.” – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh[viii]
Police will claim “leads”, suggest Pak role in the attacks
Yadav hinted at the role of a Pakistan-based terror outfit[ix]
A few LeT operatives may be arrested
Varanasi terror “mastermind” killed[x]
A few weeks later, the police will unearth evidence that Pakistan was indeed behind the attack – and things will move on.
Time, I would have thought, to say, “Enough is enough”? Not really.
In this eternal land, even time stands still, in mournful silence.
In the country of spine-less leaders, where a foreign-born is Queen, lives are cheap and rhetoric in abundance.
References
[i] http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=64016
[ii] http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=64016
[iii] http://ccc.domaindlx.com/socialcause/nov011505/what.html
[iv] http://www.ivarta.com/columns/OL_051222.htm
[v] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4782618.stm
[vi] http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/mar92006/index214052200638.asp
[vii] http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060307/ap_on_re_as/india_explosions
[viii] http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1644440,000900010004.htm
[ix] http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/mar/08up8.htm
[x] http://www.ibnlive.com/article.php?id=6482�ion_id=3#
A comment from Shib and my reply to his email:
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On 14/03/06, Shib wrote:
So, what do you suggest? Declare war on Pak so that we fall into another spiral of violence, lose our jawaans and win naught but crticism from around the world; or initiate riots in India, massacre the innocent members of the “minority” communities, cause bloodshed all around and make the entire India a big Gujarat; or perhaps, set up our own terrorist outfits that’ll steal into Pak and blow away landmarks, so we can become partners in causing doom??? It is easy, brother, to blame others. What would you do if you had the onus?
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Shib
Thank you for your comments.
Let me straightaway say that there are no easy answers – howevere there are some obvious responses.
First, break diplomatic ties with Pakistan & Bangladesh.
Two, attack at the roots that nourish terrorism in India – go after the funds that support these actvities (Islamic charities, middle east money routed via hawala).
Three, some kind of pre-emptive strikes against the camps across the border (details are well known and do not bear repititrion).
Four, fence the borders (esp. with Bangladesh).
As you and I both know, even these steps will not entirely stop terrorist attacks from happening – a good case in point is Israel which routinely suffers from such attacks in spite of one of the best preventive systems anywhere in the world.
The point of the article (or its conclusion) was not that we declare war against Pakistan or initiate riots or massacre groups of people – that would be dumb, irresponsible and pointless.
But I hope you will agree that we need to demonstrate resolve and show that we will not just sit back waiting for the next attack to happen.