Muthalik in custody for one day – a joke

India’s vandalism party chief has been arrested and a news channel says that he will be in jail for at least a night (this was on Thursday evening). Ask anyone in Udupi, about Muthalik’s background, they will tell you that he was a local goonda – a petty ransom and hafta collector. I will not be surprised if he has not been arrested earlier. What is new for him if he goes for another day? Does it matter to him? He has become a political leader overnight. That’s what he wanted!!!

In fact, with the Karnataka CM’s statement, in a way supporting him by telling that pub culture should be stopped in Bangalore – the pub city, does he not know Muthalik’s background? Should he be stopping pub culture or ensuring guys like Muthalik are put behind bars?

How come he was not arrested for his acts and put behind bars for good?

Why does it take Mumbai Police to get him to books? What is this “at least one day in jail attitude”? This is the biggest joke played on Indians today!

Morale policing vs. economic stability and national security

Once again our politicians display their foot-in-mouth syndrome. From the head of a nitwitic party who disrupted lives and terrorized people in Mangalore, to another party in Nashik who terrorized kids to the Chief Ministers of Rajasthan and Karnataka – every ones motto now seems to be “morale policing is my contribution to the society”!

Wake up guys, today the problems that our country (including your party) faces are two:
01. Economy is slowing down further and is actually exposing cracks even in India
02. This is resulting in increased unemployment
03. And finally, the threat to our existence from terrorism

Morale policing will not help in any of the top three issues that are primary to the lives of an Indian. When will our politicians understand that? Why are we voting for them?

Political terror to Politics of terror

It was sad see Ajmal Amir Qasab again creating havoc in Nashik, at a hotel in Bombay and a pub in Mangalore. The hundreds attacked by terrorists in Bombay were innocent. The objectives of the terrorists were to create havoc and destroy lives of many innocent people. At the same time, one of the key reasons for the attack was to get certain recognition.

How different are the hooligan parties in Bombay and Mangalore? They have created havoc with their inhuman actions. They have terrorised the lives of innocent people. And their core objective is to get their parties recognized as the elections are round the corner.

This is where we do not see the Government and the Supreme Court not taking steps. Can’t these parties be barred from participating in elections? What are we waiting for?
When do we see an end to the politics of terror? Or political terror?

When do we learn? When will India be safe?

A little more than month after Mumbai attacks. A couple of months after blasts in Assam. The blasts repeat themselves. We cannot say, ‘history repeats itself’, as the attacks on Indian soil are not history yet. Assam sees three blasts on the evening of January 1, 2009. Could the perpetrators have found a better day?

You have politicians still talking, pointing fingers, covering their bums and finally bullshitting. You and I, the citizens of India are still living to die an unexpected death.

Yesterday here in Bombay, Police were patrolling the streets like never before. They are keeping vigil on the city and we are told they are well equipped to handle and kind of incident of attack on the city. What about Assam?

Why were these steps not taken in Assam? And our security system stinks. Doesn’t it? The home minister was supposed to be coming to Assam and was supposed to be passing that route. I am sure the security agencies, have done a complete combing of the areas which will be touched by the home minister. What searching have they done?

Yes, the number of people killed in today’s incident in Assam are low. Three as now. But aren’t they lives?

They question that comes to my mind is that, ‘am I safe anywhere in India’, ‘are you’?

This is a result of governance and the governors – a failure of both. Poor governance has led to misuse of power in wrong directions and being unprepared to go in the right direction. By governance, I mean the politicians who fight based on caste and religion, security agencies that are paid peanuts and hence, hire moneys and finally the govt. officials who are so corrupt (mind you, corruption in India is a function of poor salaries paid to them and someway their attitude towards life in general).

Can the governors stop being corrupt and do their duty as they should and work towards improving governance? Secondly, can we citizens work out governance principles based on our experiences in our careers?

I for sure can help India market itself to the world. What can you do?

The Pakistan Dilema

The issue at Pakistan is a little complex. Difficult to say who is running the country. You have a democratically elected govt. today. However, you have a legacy of army rule. Both, the forces and ISI have really controlled and possibly still are.

So, whether the President or Prime Minister of Pakistan succumbs to the pressures of the Indian Govt. or that of UK or US or any other country, implementation on the ground will still be done by the ISI and the Forces. Or should I say non-implementation and white washing.

We see silly statements made by the democratically elected govt. in Pakistan. All statements they have made till now are haunting them back when facts come to light. To start with, "Kasav is not a Pakistani", we heard the president say it on Larry King's program. Some media outfit from UK, found his parents' name on voter's lists. One Pakistani TV channel did two sets of interviews, one, under cover and another openly. We heard two distinctly different voices coming out of the same people. Very sad. Unfortunately, Pakistan still wants proof after taking away his parents from their house and sealing it. And the latest statement on invasion on their airspace. Huh!!! I think the Indian Air Force, would have not returned before destroying the target, if they went into Pakistan airspace.

Actually more sad than this would be the state of President and Prime Minister of Pakistan. They are actually trying to (possibly, let's give them the credit) do something good for the country and been elected, do not want to show that they are not as strong as the military govt. of Musharaf. They are also being held hostage to the army and the ISI who gives them the sound bites and the updates on the ground. I frankly pity them.

This is the time, I believe the world should come together and help the Pakistani PM and the Prez, to bring out the truth within Pakistan and drive the unwanted elements out of the region.

But is there someone who gains from the current scenario in Pak? Think you guys know Parvez Musharaf? If there is any instability in Pak, he is the only one to gain.

Is war with Pakistan an option?

Post the attack on Bombay, I have been hearing multiple known and unknown citizens talking of hitting out at Pakistan with military firepower. The biggest example given is that of US. “No one has ever dared to touch US after 9/11 as US immediately attacked Afghanistan and then Iraq”.

This may be the consensus that we see amongst many Indians today. Go ahead and attack Pakistan and give them a strong message that they cannot mess with us.

In terms of sequences they speak of US is correct. There was the disastrous 9/11, and then US attacked Afghanistan, could not catch Osama and then changed their focus to Iraq to find weapons of mass destruction… found nothing. They still lose almost a couple of trillion dollars a year, lose many army personnel, and it has cost Bush his government – clearly told by citizens, that it was a wrong choice.

The real story however is that this offence by US was not the reason why they do not have any attacks on US grounds. Key to US’s success against terrorists is the fact that they developed a strong homeland security system coupled with strong intelligence system. It is the processes that they have developed that helps them squash all threats at a planning stage. Interestingly, if you listen to Ms. Rice of US, you will hear her say that even today they are getting clear threats to their land always. But they are being able to neutralize them from occurring as they have a strong intelligence system.

What we need in India is a strong intelligence system and a willingness to take intelligence seriously. Not fight a war with Pakistan.

With a war, both countries will have more martyrs, will take our intolerance with one another for another 60 years, will kill both the economies and will play into the hands of the terrorists’ thoughts and ideas.

Now, do you think, 'is war with Pakistan an option'?

Do we need a CM for Bombay?

In the most critical times for Bombay, post the unprecedented attacks that shook the city, we have political games being played for the chair of the Chief Minister. It has taken more than six days to get a consensus.

Hence the question, “do we need a CM?” This is not a question for citizens to answer but I think the politicians should think about it.

Worst still, one of the politicians creates a scene in front of media as he was not given the position. I am told he was one of those who created this delay. He looked like a fool. I could see a terrorist in his eyes.

Dirty politics in tough times.

But yes, do we really need a CM for Bombay (am not talking of the state)?