A lot has happened, since I last posted here. Both, personally and otherwise. But, every single one of these changes has been affecting me at a very personal level.
Much has been said about the Bombay (I refuse to call it Mumbai !) terror attacks. It has also found expression in terms of candle-lit marches, quiet demonstrations, and maybe not-so-quiet ones too. A lot of people have been suggesting solutions too, for preventing these kind of attacks in the future.
I don’t have any solutions to give. But one of the articles that has stuck to my head is a piece of conversation between one of the hostages (who survived), and one of the terrorists, that I read about in the papers. When the lady asked the militant why he was carrying out these atrocities, he cited instances where Muslims were killed during the Godhra riots and the Babri Masjid riots.
Though, I don’t agree that the reason he gave justified his actions, I do strongly feel that what happened during those riots was as bad. What was worse, is that those riots were state-sponsored ! The guys who carried out the Bombay attacks were hard-core terrorists. But what about those who caused the Babri Masjid and Godhra riots ? The so-called politicians who are supposed to be taking care of our citizens. They are the worst terrorists.
It makes me feel so angry and helpless that the very people who stoked communalism in our country countless times, and caused the killings of so many innocent people are walking around free. Why weren’t they taken to task ? Isn’t it a known fact that Narendra Modi was the mastermind behind the Godhra riots ? Why hasn’t he been arrested ?!
I don’t care for people who say that he is the man responsible for the success of Gujarat state. Success at the cost of what ? Of antagonising a sect of people and making them feel marginalised ! I wish the whole country had caused an uproar at that time, like they are doing now. Maybe, this terror attack could have been avoided.
I feel, politicians such as Narendra Modi, LK Advani, Bal Thackeray, Raj Thackeray…and countless others should be strongly penalised for adopting the ‘Divide and Rule’ approach to increase their vote bank, at the cost of the unity of our country. They are the terrorists of the worst sort !
Even now, it is not too late. Make them pay for what they have done. That way, we’ll be sending out strong signals to the Muslim community of India, that this country is against extremism of all sorts !
3 responses so far ↓
dharmabum // December 12, 2008 at 4:59 am |
it is a shortsighted view of things, imho.
for i don’t believe that is the only reason. when a faith teaches you that it is the only way of life, that every other person who doesn’t subscribe to it is an infidel who ought to die, then by killing people, you are only doing a perfectly ‘righteous’ thing according to your faith.
godhara and babri masjid are but few instances of reaction kindled my anger – for the people have been facing this for ages now, and have remained silent. and it is natural for people to react that way when in anger.
what we need is intellectual debate – of learned scholars representing different faiths.
good to see you back – its been long eh!
mumbaigirl // December 14, 2008 at 1:22 pm |
I agree with you. Justice needs to be done and seen to be done, for everyone, from the victims of the terrorist attacks to the various riots that have occured in Bombay, in Gujarat, in 84…
Gee // December 15, 2008 at 3:42 am |
DB,
I agree that there is a possibility, that the attack could not have been avoided, even if those politicians had been penalised for what they did. At least, we would be giving them one less reason to carry out these atrocities in the name of revenge.
Not to mention, I strongly believe that we, as a secular country, should be taking a stand against all forms of extremism !
Intellectual debate between scholars of different faiths might be the only solution left…though, I wonder if these people even operate by intellect !
Mumbaigirl,
I strongly feel that way too. We can’t just erase history…