July 13, 2011, Wednesday, Three blasts in Mumbai

After more blasts in Mumbai on Wednesday, I am beginning to believe that terror attacks aren't even registering as an important event in this city's psyche any more, which perhaps is not a good thing.

I was at work and about to leave to meet a friend when news first started trickling in of a blast in Dadar. It was through a phone call somebody received from somebody. A quick google search shot up nothing, and some old references of a gas cylinder blast in Dadar. I was hoping that this is what it would be, but as more news started trickling in, I came to know that there are three blasts, and then the online news sources came to life, and televisions went into overdrive with the blasts at Zaveri Bazar, Dadar Kabutarkhana (one of my favorite places in Dadar) and Opera House. 

All plans were cancelled and my immediate worry was to figure out a way to get home. I really did not know how big the attacks would turn out to be, and after 26 November 2008, one would think better systems and networks and measures would be in place to prevent another serial attack on the city, but then, the law and order of a nation run by a government that has given up on governance and whose sole motive now is to be on the back foot deflecting scandals and defending allegations, should be expected to be porous.  

I am still not sure of the final count of the death and injured is, but the number of dead is reported to be around 18-20, with over a 100 injured, and perhaps this is one reason why, despite any terrorist attack being as heinous as the next, this city found it just that much easier to take it in its stride and stand up right after? It is macabre and just wrong to think about it, but yes, our acceptance towards injustice and death of fellow Indians really makes us accept a lot of bad things that continually happen in our nation, situations that can be prevented by a more aware citizenry, a much, much more responsible media than they are today, and well, a simply better functioning government at all levels.

When I first heard of the blasts, I thought at least somebody in the CONgress led UPeeA government will be glad to see the media focus drawn away from their shenanigans. At the same time, what I didn't see was that these blasts seem to be angering the general population even more given the already incompetent and unresponsive government the country has today. Dr. Manmohan Singh has become a ghost who speaks nothing, announces nothing, and God forbid should be have control over the actions of HIS cabinet ministry. The buggers just underwent some cabinet reshuffle, which I suppose is common in governments so as to allow every suckling neta from the coalition to have a chance to sit in the spotlight and make some money while in it, but this time, perhaps it was also to try to present a picture of action. Hmm, whatever, all I know is that economic progress or no economic progress, if this country isn't safe, then we all should probably just start organizing our own neighborhoods and societies and take the law and order situation into our own hands, because the entire system has been hollowed with poor laws and missing intent.

After the 2008 attacks, a minister then, R.R Patil said that such small incidents keep happening in such big cities. Now Rahul Gandhi, the 41 year old bachelor and supposed PM in waiting says that it is not possible to prevent all such attacks. I think Gandhi's missed the point completely. The rest of the world perceives India to be a super soft state, and such attacks only reinforce such a perception, thus emboldening all the people who want to harm the nation. The attitude is wrong, Rahul, the attitude is completely wrong.

Manmohan Singh and Godmother Gandhi paid a visit to Mumbai to cry some crocodile tears and say some strong words such as "we will prevent future attacks", "our hearts are with victims and their families", etc etc, and while they visited the victims in the hospitals, the victims' kin waited outside for these VVIPee's to finish their daily routine of farce. Bastards, bastards, bastards.

There's so many ideas and theories and analysis that I have come across in the past two days that I am not even sure of what to write. Every thing should say that Pakistan is involved, and I am quite amazed at how the word has not been mentioned even once by the Government of India or Government of Maharashtra. P Chidambaram said that "all" terror groups are under investigation, which actually has no leads till date according to the media, and certain media sections have been quick to defend Pakistan when some guest speakers pointed a finger at them. There is this organization called the Indian Mujahideen, who apparently are only around because the government lets them be around because they happen to be Indian Muslims. Ah yes, the only reference from the GoI has been that this should not derail the piss process, I mean peace process with Pakistan. Actually, a few officials have said there is no Paki link to it, so there you go, if they are being so categorical before the investigating agencies have had even an iota of success, then surely they must be right!

Godmother Gandhi's most loyal pet said that at least India is better than Pakistan where the blasts take place every day! Ha ha ha, I am really not sure whether I should laugh, cry or cry with laughter. Another anecdote from TV came when a former top spy chief from India was listing all the things that the UPeeA government did, or didn't do to strengthen law and order in the country, the other guest on the show, CONgress spokesman Abhishek Sanghvi, accusing the former of being a BJP supporter! I think the Government of India is truly going crazy, and this is not a good sign for this country. I fear we may have to keep paying with our blood for voting these ridiculously shameless group of people to run our country for us. Well, back to normal life now and probably wait for some other tragedy to strike this country from within or without.