Government Dumb , People Numb

- A curious case of bomb blasts

Battered and torn in shreds were not just clothes but bodies and flesh, puddle was not of mud but that of blood, lost were not only lives but hope, faith and self respect. While the ministers in Delhi were busy deliberating and rationalizing a salary hike, a powerful bomb exploded on gate 5 of the Delhi HC (7^th September, 2011) and with it shattered the faith of millions who elect these very MPs/MLAs. However, in the defense of these charitable breed of people in our legislative assemblies, they were quick to offer help. They quickly quoted a price. Rate card as follows :

Death – Rs. 4 Lakh

Those who suffered from permanent incapacitation – Rs. 2 Lakh

Serious injury – Rs. 1 Lakh

Minor injury – Rs. 10,000

So, what’s so curious about these bomb blasts? Umm… I wonder. Why and how is it that every time the government is pushed against the wall, a helping bomb lends its hand to pull it out of the holy mess! I am sure it is but a coincidence, just that the frequency of such co-incidents make you feel otherwise. Also, have you ever wondered the chain of events that follow these blasts? I try to capture the most prominent five :

- The government asks people to show restraint and resilience – “No bomb can shake India’s faith.” (Oh yeah, it sure does take away lives of the loved ones)

- The government placates and uses ironically a card for ‘motivating’ people – “The spirit of the people of Delhi/Mumbai/(name any Indian city) ..cannot be shaken by any terror attack and the city will show unity and move on like always.” (As if we have a choice!)

- Political parties gather together, condemn the attacks in the parliament and pledge to show solidarity and bring the perpetrators to book (And finally go back to blame game!)

- Calls from various heads of state assuring India of their unequivocal support in our fight against terrorism, with the United states condemning the incident “in strongest possible voice” , yet asking India (diplomatically or otherwise) to refrain from any military actions against Pakistan ( while they can bomb half the world on speculation)

- The self proclaimed champions of human cause, of hope and justice – the Indian media taps on this opportunity to play a melancholy tune to the visuals of crying faces and bruised body, fighting with one another for a better coverage (these same people who shout ‘justice’ never took action against those culprits in the Radia episode – but are model of ‘fair play’ (paid news!)

To be honest, I do not remember when the last bomb blast took place – probably three or four months back. My memory seems to have faded by these constant slaps of the terrorists. All these attacks seem so similar. Clothes without bodies and bodies without clothes , smell of gun powder hanging in the air – how can you distinguish a Delhi from a Mumbai? - May be just by the number of deaths. It’s so probable that one of us will become a victim tomorrow. The politicians will come and visit the hospitals in their German cars and their cavalcade will block the roads. The rest left to the ‘super men of justice’ – swarms of media persons with their crew will push people to the capture the glimpse of the Rahuls and the Advanis. (and yes, then they call ‘elite’ intelligentsia of the society to debate in futility whether the politicians should visit hospitals.)

The next day you move on – caring little, recalling hardly the faces of the weeping. The politicians will get busy with what they are ‘good’ at, bureaucrats in their daily routine, the media will hunt for stories to sensationalize and present and win the TRP race. While other countries specially the United States respect the lives of every citizen of theirs (sending their rescue team for some Americans lost in the African jungle is just one such incident, we use the lives of our people as a fuel to drive the polity. Is it hard for a country as huge as ours (deemed to be a powerhouse) to have adequate street policing, a hard execution-able anti terror law that punishes and does not waste tax-payers 'money to feed and waitlist them. Why cannot we air-strike the terror havens in Pakistan despite their street addresses! We just need resolve and conviction. The people are in for it; hopefully our representatives are soon blessed with sound, strategic and empathetic thinking

- From a survivor (so far)