- Anil Narendra
Serial blasts in Mumbai have exposed the claims of alertness and security by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the Intelligence Bureau and the National Investigation Agency-NIC created with much hype to investigate terror related matters. The Home Ministry and P Chidambaram as the Home Minister had earned a fair amount of goodwill. People had started reposing trust in him and they had begun thinking that here is a Minister who has succeeded in stopping the bomb blasts to some extent. There had been no major blast after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Though minor bomb blast continued, but there was no attack on the scale of the Parliament attack or attack on Akshardham Temple or Mumbai carnage. These Wednesday blasts have caused embarrassment to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, as these happened at time when the NIS team, specially formed for tackling the terror attacks was present in the town, and the Union Home Secretary was also on Mumbai tour on Monday. Although, his was a private visit, but it is strange that he and the NIC team could not foresee the impending threat, especially when it was on alert for last few days. But terrorists had the audacity to blot the image of Chidambaram, who in spite of all the odds was able to retain his portfolio in the heat of recent Cabinet reshuffle. According to Home Ministry sources, terrorists succeeded in triggering three blasts in Mumbai on Wednesday within an interval of eleven minutes, in spite of about half a dozen warnings by Intelligence agencies. It may also be mentioned that a few hours before, the US intelligence agency CIA had warned of possible terror attacks on some Indian cities including Mumbai. Not only this, it was also the 24th birthday of Aamir Ajmal Kasab, the main accused in Mumbai terror attacks of 26 November 2008, on Wednesday. Despite all this, alertness by security-intelligence agencies proved futile. The continued indifference of the Ministry towards terror attacks can be gauged from the fact that while presenting its monthly report in the first week of July, the Ministry had patted itself for no terror attack during last six months. Perhaps, the Ministry could not anticipate this possible threat. It is for the first time after P Chidambaram taking over as the Minister of Home Affairs that the terrorist organizations have directly challenged the country by causing three blasts within a span of few minutes. The Ministry is still groping in the dark for the culprits of German bakery blast of Pune and Varanasi Ghat blast. It is interesting to note that the Ministry had claimed to almost solve the German bakery blast case, but later, it was declared unsolved.
Though the Mumbaikars have, as usual faced the Wednesday blasts with courage and calmness, yet the Mumbai has changed over the years. Mumbai has faced about half a dozen terror attacks since 1993, including the 2008 attacks. At least 700 persons have lost their lives in these attacks. But, it appears that the violence is still far from being curbed. It is often said about attacks on Mumbai that an attack on Mumbai, the financial capital of India and the hub of entertainment industry, could prove a great set back for the country. Moreover, terrorist groups can draw attention of the world towards them by executing such attacks. But, now, it appears to be only one aspect of the story. Many Mumbai residents may tell you that following demolition of Babri Masjid in 1993, the city continued to reel under the communal riots for two weeks and since then the city has started crumbling down. Two months after the riots, the underworld caused serial bomb blasts as avenge the Babri Masjid demolition, claiming lives of more than 250 persons. The victims included a number of Muslims also. Many people believe that lawlessness started raising its head from that very day. Every government ignored the report in two volumes on communal riots and no action was taken against politicians and police personnel allegedly involved in the riots. But, at the same time, the administration took necessary action against those involved in the blasts. For this, the government was branded as anti-Muslim. The trust between two larger communities of the city started deteriorating. The author of a much appreciated book on Mumbai City, “Mumbai Fables” says that till now, Mumbai was considered to be a law-abiding, liberal city, but this image has now receded to the imagination only. Now the city is agog with conspiracies of politicians, builders, criminals, Hindu extremists, Muslim extremists since mid-1990s. There appears to be no change in the situation. The city is cracking under these conspiracies, which has made it an easy target for terror attacks. It has become a tired city full of bitterness under the facade of glittering nights, vast bungalows of film stars, the costliest building of the richest person of India. A large chunk of its population still lives in slums. Thousands, still sleep on pavements under the open sky. How can this city remain lively? Talking of Mumbai spirit after each blast or calamity has lost its meaning and has become tiring.
Though the Mumbaikars have, as usual faced the Wednesday blasts with courage and calmness, yet the Mumbai has changed over the years. Mumbai has faced about half a dozen terror attacks since 1993, including the 2008 attacks. At least 700 persons have lost their lives in these attacks. But, it appears that the violence is still far from being curbed. It is often said about attacks on Mumbai that an attack on Mumbai, the financial capital of India and the hub of entertainment industry, could prove a great set back for the country. Moreover, terrorist groups can draw attention of the world towards them by executing such attacks. But, now, it appears to be only one aspect of the story. Many Mumbai residents may tell you that following demolition of Babri Masjid in 1993, the city continued to reel under the communal riots for two weeks and since then the city has started crumbling down. Two months after the riots, the underworld caused serial bomb blasts as avenge the Babri Masjid demolition, claiming lives of more than 250 persons. The victims included a number of Muslims also. Many people believe that lawlessness started raising its head from that very day. Every government ignored the report in two volumes on communal riots and no action was taken against politicians and police personnel allegedly involved in the riots. But, at the same time, the administration took necessary action against those involved in the blasts. For this, the government was branded as anti-Muslim. The trust between two larger communities of the city started deteriorating. The author of a much appreciated book on Mumbai City, “Mumbai Fables” says that till now, Mumbai was considered to be a law-abiding, liberal city, but this image has now receded to the imagination only. Now the city is agog with conspiracies of politicians, builders, criminals, Hindu extremists, Muslim extremists since mid-1990s. There appears to be no change in the situation. The city is cracking under these conspiracies, which has made it an easy target for terror attacks. It has become a tired city full of bitterness under the facade of glittering nights, vast bungalows of film stars, the costliest building of the richest person of India. A large chunk of its population still lives in slums. Thousands, still sleep on pavements under the open sky. How can this city remain lively? Talking of Mumbai spirit after each blast or calamity has lost its meaning and has become tiring.
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