I tried putting off blogging on this subject for quite some time now, but with media broadcasting increasingly disturbing news each passing hour, politics getting dirty, while the real issues get sidelined yet again, coughing up so many negative emotions in me, mainly anger; and While I cannot get down to streets to protest, voicing my thoughts is the only healthy constructive outlet.

It all started on a seemingly very peaceful night, when we returned home from a late night party and I switched on the TV to catch a glimpse of the news. What I saw can only be described as an overwhelming shock, disturbance and a sense of loss. Terrorist attack on Mumbai was one thing, but the loss of three most well trained, well experienced officers was unforgivable! I sat the whole night watching the developments and as I watched Taj go up in flames, the horror, panic and grief I felt was as if my very own roof was burning.

I have since been closely following up on turn of events and I cannot help but wonder what is wrong with us Indians and our politicians. Let’s face it; we get the kind of politicians we deserve. They are there, because we have elected them or the educated ones have failed to cast their votes.

Recent Mumbai attack was not the first time, we have been targeted by the terrorists time and again and it is not going to stop. This time, the only error the terrorists did was that they singled out the rich and the elite. Money is power, no wonder, this particular Mumbai attack has had such massive impact on our politicians and so many heads have rolled since then. But that’s not enough.

What India needs is a responsible attitude and respect for life. It’s a shame that a few terrorists came through boat and held the financial capital for ransom. It speaks in volumes of how weak our national security is. What we need to do is secure our border so no one enters our country unauthorized. We have to scrutinize to whom we are giving the visa. We need more security checks and bomb detectors all over the country. And instead of spending our taxes on expensive cars and body guards for politicians, we need to get our police officers and army men a better pay, arms and protection devices.

Every news channels seem to be hinting of developments leading to a war. But is it wise to go on a war against Pakistan, especially during an economic crisis that Indian is facing today? Would US really stand by us during the war? But isn’t Pakistan an ally of US and doesn’t protecting an ally become a duty of US? Looking at the activities of Pakistan from past couple of months including repeated firing at the border, Pakistan appears to be increasingly provoking India in to a war. It seems to me that they have an agenda up their sleeves and are very ready for a war. Where does China stand in all this? We all know that the weapons used by terrorists are made in China and we also know that China and Pakistan are better pals. India and China have always had a tense yet unacknowledged relationship related to Dalai Lama and border issues. Moreover China seems to be in a war like mood too. They have recently strengthened their military capacity and it wouldn’t surprise me if behind Pakistan’s flamboyant arrogance lies China’s support. If there is war, China is more likely to support Pakistan and we cannot depend on our ever fickle, opportunistic US, even if they were the ones who talked us in to the war in the first place. The real victim of any war is the civilian. So keeping India’s well being in mind, a war against Pakistan is extremely ill advised.

What India can do, is pressurize US to stop funding Pakistan and urge UN to deal with terrorists inside Pakistan. An even better strategy would be to end all financial and trade ties with Pakistan. Meanwhile, we need to understand that Pakistan is least bit of our problem. Handling terrorists inside Pakistan is a Pakistani problem; we just shouldn’t let them enter our soil. Our problem lies with us and “chalta hai” attitude of our politicians. Nothing was done when every single Pandit was either killed or forced out of Kashmir; What preventive measures was taken after the serial bomb blasts in Bangalore, Ahemedabad and Delhi in recent past? It always ends up in political blame game. What we don’t need is publicity mongers making controversial remarks to stir hateful emotions that can destroy our solidarity. We don’t need so called human rights activities who somehow always tend to support the criminals and terrorists.

There is no such thing as spirit of Mumbai; it’s only their helplessness that keeps them going. We don’t need to be hunted down, we need to be protected for if we are secure, no one can harm us.