THE MUMBAI mayhem for 59 hours had India under siege. It served a very important purpose. While India was getting accolades all around the world as the leader in recessive times; while the US economy and other world leaders were witnessing a meltdown; while there were worries for all business leaders; while the stock market had taken a 300 per cent beating; it was then that the terrorist attacks had to happen. It went on to show that despite the accolades we were still lacking in terms of the Intelligence network to preempt such attacks, we were lacking in crisis infrastructure and we were lacking in political will to handle such a situation.
While the famed Mumbai Police, the elite NSG and the Marine commandos fought it out at all the three locations -- the Taj Hotel, the Oberoi Trident and the Nariman House -- to salvage the pride of a resurgent India, the political bigwigs went into their hideouts. The political propounders of the recent ‘Marathi manoos’ theme went into oblivion when the ‘Indian’ NSG fought the terrorists notwithstanding that they were trying to salvage the pride of Maharashtra -- Mumbai. The debate on Malegaon blasts and the cheap politicking thereafter also faded into the terror-stricken nights. Sadly, the politicians have been badly exposed, that they are misfit to lead a nation that the world claims would be the next superpower.
It is, therefore, not surprising that the youth have turned a blind eye towards these ‘khadi’ clad hypocrites who make opportunistic noises.
It is high time we take the nation in our hands and not rely on politicians to show us the way. Because, if not all, most of the political establishment, is indulging in personal wealth management, regional and divisive interests, red-tapism and corrupt activities. So I for one and as the president of the ‘Religion of Youth’ feel that it is high time we use our ballot to the effect that we have administrators of repute, who are educated enough to understand the future requirements, and most importantly, see that the literate youth and the middle class do not withdraw from the elections but vote for the right candidates.
I salute the Mumbai Police, the NSG and the Marine commandos as well as the brave Mumbaikars who rose above petty politics to come together and salvage the pride of our nation, which will one day be a world leader – ‘India tujhe salaam’.
