Warning: Explicit language. Read at your own risk.
Genre: India
It is this ghastly incident that made me write this post so soon after the previous one.
Once again India has been hit by terrorism, this time not from across the border but from within the country itself. The biggest pain-in-the-ass of our country, the Naxals butcher 74 CRPF soldiers as India watches in shock and awe. Like always, the Government gave out stupid statements. Home Minister P. Chidambaram says "We should have not lost so many lives." True. Yet, why does time and again India suffer at the hands of a handful of assholes? Why does a Kasab here, a Naxal there keep killing Indians at will and the government do nothing to stop it?
They say we are a non violent country following the ideals of Gandhi. The problem is, our government seems to follow it a bit too much. Gandhi once famously said that if someone slaps you on one cheek, give him another cheek, and our government keeps doing that. So, that son-of-a-bitch Kasab, having killed hundreds of Mumbaikars, enjoys his five-star stay in Arthur Road Jail, complete with his choice of newspapers, cologne and chicken tikka. These Naxals kill 74 security jawans, and the government says that no offensive strikes will be conducted against them.
How long should we keep tolerating this? For how long will hard-earned money of taxpayers go into providing security and special treatment to a terrorist? Why shouldn't he be tied with the very same hand-grenades he lobbed around at CST and blasted to death in full public view? Why can't the government order the Air Force and Army to launch a joint air-and-ground assault to wipe out the Naxalite camps once and for all? Every year millions of dollars are spent on signing new defence deals, so why isn't this arsenal used to get rid of these suckers? How many more attacks will it take before the Government wakes up to the fact that these idiots are neither Hindu, nor Muslim, nor votebanks. They are simply parasites eating up the country.
Gandhi's principles may have worked to get the British out of this country, but they certainly are NOT going to work in today's scenario. In fact, even trying to make them work is sheer stupidity. It is high time Gandhigiri is given a backseat and Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev are brought to the forefront. These are the true heroes the country needs to look up to today. The sooner the morons in New Delhi realise this, the better it will be for India. Till then, keep paying your taxes on time so that Kasab can enjoy his Chicken Tikka.
I completely agree with you. Its about time that the security forces launch an all out attack on the Naxals. But care has to be taken that there is minimal collateral damage. And all those so called intellectuals who symphatize with the Naxals should condemn such brutal acts of violence by the Naxals instead of supporting them.
ReplyDeleteAlso Naxals are running a parallel economy. It is said that they have funds to the tune of Rs 1600 crore obtained via extortion and questionable sources and organizations.
But I feel pity for the innocent tribals living in these areas. They have nothing in the name of development and facilities. They are some of the poorest people in our country and their so called 'messiahs', the Naxals are not making the Government's task of bringing development to these places easy.
In fact the Naxals force the tribal's to serve them and promising them a lucrative sum and thats how the Naxals fuel their head count.
ReplyDeleteAnd the govt will play the same old tune of strongly condemning the issue and 'Request' the Naxals to stop this violence while Kasab enjoys his bullet proof Mercedes.
I disagree with you. History has proven that an eye for an eye policy which may lead to an all out war, has never been beneficial to anyone.
ReplyDeleteBut I agree that the government is not doing its best to curb Naxals. Instead of taking up arms against them, the government should focus on improving the plight of the tribals in that area. Their poverty is what is driving them to swell the Naxal ranks.
I also agree that Arundhati Roy and other so called intelligentsia of India, should condemn such attacks instead of lauding them.
@Abhishek Nair
ReplyDeleteAgreed there is the danger of collateral damage, but making statement that air strikes will NOT be used against Naxals only will add to their confidence. Mark my words, they will soon come up with even more attacks, knowing fully well that the Govt is not gonna do anything to them.
@tilo
ReplyDeleteAppreciate your point, but don't you think taking no punitive action will only make Naxals more confident, killing even more innocent citizens?
Why is it that the Govt is staying afraid of Naxals when it should be the other way round?
Also, do you also agree that Kasab should be provided security and protection at Indian taxpayers' money?
Yet, why does time and again India suffer at the hands of a handful of assholes? Why does a Kasab here, a Naxal there keep killing Indians at will and the government do nothing to stop it?
ReplyDeleteMerely because the existing police machinery is largely ineffective and underpowered. Years of corruption and rotten governance have ensured that our policemen do not even get proper bullet-proof jackets to wear, and in the meantime politicians hog all the security and eat up the nation's funds. In the end, it is we who suffer :-(
The present administration seems to be marginally better on this front - Chidambaram has put his foot down and started cutting VIP security, and after years of dilly-dallying, we finally have a plan to counter the naxals. Given the long years of neglect and the genera inertia of the system, it will take some time for the results to show. And till then, such incidents, unfortunate as they may be, will continue to occur.
How long should we keep tolerating this? For how long will hard-earned money of taxpayers go into providing security and special treatment to a terrorist?
If that hard-earned and diligently paid money was indeed utilised properly, 26/11 wouldn't even have occurred in the first place. Sadly, we pay the price for our own sins (our own because we are responsible for electing these useless people into power).
Why shouldn't he be tied with the very same hand-grenades he lobbed around at CST and blasted to death in full public view?
And reduce ourselves to his level? What, then, is the difference between our liberal progressive society and the Taliban which orders public stoning of individuals? Sorry, but the idea of our country doing something like what you envisage, with the full sanction of the government, is totally repugnant to the idea of my values and what I believe this country stands for.
Why can't the government order the Air Force and Army to launch a joint air-and-ground assault to wipe out the Naxalite camps once and for all? Every year millions of dollars are spent on signing new defence deals, so why isn't this arsenal used to get rid of these suckers?
They aren't enemy aliens - remember that these people, however renegade, are our own citizens. In a democracy, you cannot use the army against your own people - in that case, it will not be very long before every protest here becomes a Tianmen Square. The solution lies elsewhere and using other means. Moreover, the collateral damage that would be inflicted by such an attack is too much of a risk to take.
It is high time Gandhigiri is given a backseat and Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev are brought to the forefront. These are the true heroes the country needs to look up to today. The sooner the morons in New Delhi realise this, the better it will be for India. Till then, keep paying your taxes on time so that Kasab can enjoy his Chicken Tikka.
I agree with you to the limited extent that the RDB model will work, but only in respect of things like corruption and bureaucratic inefficiency. We cannot go around shooting all criminals on the spot - it would ead to a situation worse than anarchy. The root cause of the problem needs to be addressed - and if that is done, our tax money will be used to procure better equipment for our police and coast guards, and there will be no Kasab or his chicken tikka.
@ manish
ReplyDeletei am appalled manish at the helplessness that we are faced with..
"should we reduce ourselves to his level" is what he said abt the idea of blowing kasab off with grenades.. wht level is he talking about ? WTF are u speaking abt manish. someone who killed so many indians is getting all those facilities.. perhaps u havent seen someone close die in the terrorist attcks.. n i hope u don... coz if u did, u wudn care abt the level u have to stoop down to eliminate these rats.
and what values do u think our country stands for.. never seen a bigger hypocrite manish.. can u even point out one value that is violated when u try n finish ur worst enemy?
and u no what dear.. those ppl may be our citizens but we can use the army against them .. if modi does not call the army when there are riots, u will be the first person to call him communal.. if u are right, he shldnt call the army right, the rioters are our own ppl.. ya f****** right...
@ tilo
the only solution is kill the current crop of filthy rats first and then try and use your "useless" help them to win them over technique...
@Manish
ReplyDeleteThey aren't enemy aliens - remember that these people, however renegade, are our own citizens.
What citizens? People who kill the armed force soldiers don't deserve to be called "citizens" of that country. There is only one word for them - deshdrohi (traitors).
In a democracy, you cannot use the army against your own people
Yeah, but those people are allowed to shoot down soldiers of "own" country, right?
The solution lies elsewhere and using other means.
And, what are those other means? Call the Naxal leader to Delhi and tell him, "yeh le bachche, chocolate. Ab se kisiko mat maarna, okay?"
Moreover, the collateral damage that would be inflicted by such an attack is too much of a risk to take.
I am not saying to nuke Chattisgarh. A well planned guerilla attack with appropriate aerial support can be very effective with minimum (I don't say zero) collateral damage, and I am more than confident in the ability of the Indian Army to accomplish such an operation if given enough freedom.
The root cause of the problem needs to be addressed - and if that is done, our tax money will be used to procure better equipment for our police and coast guards, and there will be no Kasab or his chicken tikka.
Really? OK, assume Mumbai police has the best equipment on offer and coast guard is on patrol. Does that mean terrorist attack will not happen? We gotta accept the face that in a metro city it is practically impossible to stop a person to bring explosives and trigger a bomb blast. What action is taken againt the terrorist AFTER the blast will decide whether the outfit will think twice before attacking again or gain even more confidence. In the case of India, it is the latter. The assholes beyond the border know fully well that they can go ahead and bomb any city, nothing is gonna happen to them because the govt of "democratic" "principle-abiding" India will not take punitive action against them.
@Shreyas
ReplyDeleteBoss, very well said. There is nothing left to say from my side after this.
And yes, I agree, the people who are suggesting to "go easy" on the terrorists and "help them improve" have not gone through the experience of seeing their friend or family member die in a terrorist attack. God forbid, if they go through it, their opinion is bound to change.
@Shreyas,
ReplyDeletewht level is he talking about ? WTF are u speaking abt manish. someone who killed so many indians is getting all those facilities.. perhaps u havent seen someone close die in the terrorist attcks.. n i hope u don... coz if u did, u wudn care abt the level u have to stoop down to eliminate these rats.
I'm referring to the level that we, as a civil society, stand above such mindless and uncivilised individuals and terrorist organisations. Otherwise, as I pointed out, we stand reduced to the status of the Taliban. And that, I am not prepared to accept - I believe our national dignity does not behold such measures. How we maintain our dignity and self-respect in testing times speaks volumes about our character, both as individuals as well as a nation.
and what values do u think our country stands for.. never seen a bigger hypocrite manish.. can u even point out one value that is violated when u try n finish ur worst enemy?
As a nation, at least post-1950, I think we stand for values of fairness and justice and above all, the dignity of the individual as well as the society as a whole.
Nowhere have I suggested that Kasab should be let scot-free. Have a proper trial, convict him and then hang him - give him the fate he deserves. But do it in a manner befitting a democratic, civilised society - not like a Taliban or Khap panchayat. I am quite sure that none of those who died in any terrorist attack would wish for anyone to suffer a similar death as they did.
and u no what dear.. those ppl may be our citizens but we can use the army against them .. if modi does not call the army when there are riots, u will be the first person to call him communal.. if u are right, he shldnt call the army right, the rioters are our own ppl.. ya f****** right...
Where did Modi come into the picture from? In any case, if the police perform their job properly without political hindrance (which was the case in Delhi 1984 and Gujarat 2002), there will be no need to call in the army at all. The army should be left to do its job - defending the borders - and not relegated to such mundane tasks like internal security for which I think they are clearly overpowered and underqualified.
@Karan,
ReplyDeleteAnd, what are those other means? Call the Naxal leader to Delhi and tell him, "yeh le bachche, chocolate. Ab se kisiko mat maarna, okay?"
Do you see Naxalism flourishing in Gujarat, Delhi or Kerala? The reason is because the level of development seen in these states empowers the people and does not permit renegade movements like this to even take root, leave alone flourish. Hence, I believe that there must be a simultaneous development-oriented approach along with police action, otherwise the problem will continue to fester without being eliminated altogether.
I am not saying to nuke Chattisgarh. A well planned guerilla attack with appropriate aerial support can be very effective with minimum (I don't say zero) collateral damage, and I am more than confident in the ability of the Indian Army to accomplish such an operation if given enough freedom.
I believe the army is not suited for such an operation - they are trained to fight an enemy in battle conditions, not with thousands of civilians around the place being used as shields. Wherever the army has tried to maintain internal security - with civilians around - they have failed miserably, whether it be J&K or Manipur. They do a commendable job at the battlefront - whether 1999 or 1971, their commitment and capability on that front has been tested and proved to be impeccable, time and again. So let the army stay at the borders and do what it is best suited for.
The solution in Chattisgarh/Jharkand, etc., IMHO, is not the army, but the Andhra Pradesh model - using a dedicated and specially trained and equipped police force, called Greyhounds, the state managed to decimate naxalites there between 2003-2005. Today, AP is almost naxal-free because of this model of proper planning and execution. I am quite sure it can be replicated in MH/CG/JH etc.
Does that mean terrorist attack will not happen? We gotta accept the face that in a metro city it is practically impossible to stop a person to bring explosives and trigger a bomb blast.
The most sophisticated terrorists cannot be stopped by even the most sophisticated security. But my point is that in 26/11, the mode of attack was incredibly crude and failed only because of a pathetic maritime security system. Remember the foiled plot in Surat? The arrests of operatives in various parts of the country? We need to give a little more credit to our police - given their limited resources and political interference, they are doing a decent job, and like your conviction in the army, I am sure they will be able to do a much better job with better infrastructure.
What action is taken againt the terrorist AFTER the blast will decide whether the outfit will think twice before attacking again or gain even more confidence.
In the case of India, it is the latter. The assholes beyond the border know fully well that they can go ahead and bomb any city, nothing is gonna happen to them because the govt of "democratic" "principle-abiding" India will not take punitive action against them.
I agree with your first point, but not the second. Who said that we should not take punitive action against them? I reiterate - hold a trial, convict the terrorists and hang them. You can do it in a much better and less brutal manner than with grenades in public. Which is where I believe Gandhi still has relevance - even when one executes a criminal, one can do it in a humane manner. That is what differentiates "us" from "them".
The previous comment was mine - forgot to add my name. Also, a typo - the attack *succeeded* and not *failed* because of pathetic maritime security.
ReplyDeletehold a trial, convict the terrorists and hang them. You can do it in a much better and less brutal manner than with grenades in public.
ReplyDeleteThe only problem with this method is that they are too many publicity-hungry lawyers and so-called humanitarians who jump out to defend the terrorists using the most insane arguments for years together even when the offence is evident to the world. Sometimes I feel they are bigger pain-in-the-ass of the country than terrorists themselves. The same is happening with 7/11 local train bomb blast trials and more recently with Kasab's trial. In the process, the terrorists are enjoying royal treatment and hundreds of crores of hard earned money of US, the taxpayers is going in their "security".
Seriously true man.. What's even more appalling is how the judiciary patiently waits for motherfuckers like kasab to think over what they can say, how to change their statements, etc while, like u said, calmly munching over a tender chicken thigh. Any idiot can think of a way to save his skin during that time.
ReplyDeleteIts high time we get rid of the notion of 'Why to bring ourselves down to their level'. The Talibanist methods are the best punishment for traitors and terrorists alike.
ReplyDeleteTill then, lets keep paying our taxes like goody goody Samaritans so that Kasab can enjoy his bullet-proof mercedes and his chicken tikka.