a mere political agenda - NOT ANYMORE !

The city known for its full of life and high spirited culture: MUMBAI, today is angry and the fury is visible in the voice of a commuter on the streets of the city who is desperate to see an end to such traumatic incidents. In our own nation we are living with a fear of what might happen next, and the question is whether the government is capable of protecting its people.

Last night, while I was on my way to home and like many people in Mumbai use the public transport, I sat in the auto rickshaw lending the driver an ear to his thoughts of anguish with a passionate determination to contribute towards bringing this to an end.

He had an opinion to make, saying that why are we going out to search for terrorist links when the nation has so many terrorists disguised behind high profile political designations preaching religious fanatism and provoking one against other. Babri Masjid demolition provoked the Muslim Community and became a cause of further destruction and a root cause of this act - GAIN CONFIDENCE OF THE "MAJORITY" HINDU COMMUNITY and FORM THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT. Now sit back and bear the brunt and keep playing the tit for tat game. A Muslim does anything wrong, it is considered as an act of terror for which anyone else is excused. The Political parties are corrupt and what we need is the youth to take over the old mindsets. WE NEED AN INDIAN OBAMA ! These were the thoughts of the rickshaw driver and I patiently listened to his perspectives and at the end, while getting down of the rickshaw asked for his name to which he replied 'Arif' and I understood that these were the thoughts of a suppressed liberal Muslim who has fallen under the shadow of fundamental Islamic thoughts creating terror around the world causing the liberal Muslim community to be targeted and viewed with suspicion.

While walking back, i questioned whether these are the thought of one of the most mega-diverse nation of the world which is SECULAR by law in all aspects, which respects the religious views and identity of all, which does not discriminate or divide on the basis of religion, caste or creed. My question to this is that, if this is the case then WHY DO WE ALLOW OR RATHER VOTE FOR PARTIES THAT ARE PROMOTING RELIGIOUS FANATISM. Should they even exist. India is a nation of brothers and sisters that preaches the thought of 'united we stand and divided we fall'.

The 26/11 terror attacks are on and the first SMS that I receive on my phone is - "Where is Raj Thackeray and his 'brave' sena? Tell him that 200 NSG Commandos from Delhi (NO Marathi masoos! All South & North Indians!) have been sent to Mumbai to fight the terrorists so that he can sleep peacefully." My objective is not to cite examples, but only enlighten the fact that there are political bodies prospering by using the issue of regional and communal divide, hence creating rift in humanity, which I hope is seen as a bigger objective, still.

The nation which we proudly call Bharat Mata (Mother India) needs the new generation radical leaders. We need the fresh thoughts, we need transformation, we need execution, we need prosperity, we need happiness which still happens to be the utmost purpose of existence for humankind. We need the Rahul Gandhis, the Omar Abdullahs and the Sachin Pilots and more than anything else "TRUST" & "CONFIDENCE" in our leader.

As Vimal rightly said in his entry, lets respect the sacrifices made by our heroes and lets not make them go waste. The Karkares, Salaskars and Unnikrishnans have sacrificed for a cause and it is upto us to give it an effect. Let us not stop our fight till the Indian Government and the world finds a solution to terrorism.

Here, I completely agree with Erica's observation below "The decision of reaction to terrorist or even Pakistan certainly will affect the election next year, and all political parties are moving for their benefits. Results are always being compromised in this democratic country." Let us NOT LET COMPLACENCY CREEP IN. The files of this incidence must be on Government's highest agenda till a conclusion.

See you at the 'walk of peace rally' in from of Taj, still a monument of National Pride !

Sandeep Chagger