THE UNCOUTH terrorists come from across the border, roam around Indian cities at will, map places that they propose to bomb, cultivate contacts among co-religionists locally and return to the base in the Pakistan occupied Kashmir or Pakistan proper. The movement of those terrorists go unchecked, unhindered and undetected. Our intelligence agencies wake up when those terrorists have exploded bombs, harmed Hindus mostly in places like Zaveri Bazar and Dadar. Our ministers and officials run in circles issuing meaningless statements and the highest of the high promising that the culprits would not go unpunished.

Those who make these promises of punishing the guilty suffer from amnesia. They or their predecessors had said the same thing or used words to that effect even when acts of terror were perpetrated on 26/11 in the same Amchi Mumbai and repeated with impunity many times later. It would be a good idea for the Prime Minister and the Home Minister to give statistics of terror-crime and punishment to convince the doubting Thomas of his sincerity in catching the criminal. Never mind if the record is dismal. Empty promises will not be made next time. And they say there is always a next time.

SPIRIT OF ABHAYAM

The journalists of both the print and the electronic media eulogise the spirit of revival and maintenance of high morale of an average Mumbaikar, especially of Zaveri Bazar, who received direct hits of terror many times and got back to work as many times. Now, its business as usual. Of course, some reporters have now started painting the correct word picture by saying that one is not sure if it is spirit of revival or Resignation. Well done, old boy. Gradually the truth has gained the upper hand in reports from the spot, not forgetting the contribution of Khau Gali in sustaining all concerned with delicious edibles.

One may ask a simple question. Why has the Zaveri Bazar been targetted three times successively? Is it because the diamond and bullion merchants are Hindu Gujaratis and Narendra Modi loyalists? Please do not ask further as such questions to P. Chidambaram are like red rag to bull. Since our ministers are mostly in the denial mode, and do not wish to face the Truth.

A moment ago we talked about the spirit of Abhayam- Fearlessness. Frankly speaking, it is the terrorist who knows what Abhayam means and how it has benefitted them all along. The practitioners are thankful to the Government of India for being kind to terrorists from across the border. It has provided relief to Afzal Guru despite his being sentenced to death by hanging by the Supreme Court of India. It has allowed the case of Kasab to linger on despite the heavy cost of keeping him alive in jail. So, the terrorists cross over to India with impunity as they have many well wishers here.

The seasoned politicians address the terrorists with the honorific word, Ji, like Osama Ji. They do not feel shy in visiting the families of terrorists to assure them that the legal cases would be put on fast track.

There is a young leader who has boosted the morale of terrorists by declaring from house top that all acts of terror cannot be stopped. It gives an alibi to the police when they fail again to prevent an act of terror. Nevertheless, a Mumbaikar is seething with rage at this immature statement by a political person.

ACTION AND ACTION

The talk time is over, Mr Prime Minister and Mr Home Minister. It is time for decisive action to apprehend terrorists and punish them as per law. To achieve this aim, the top leadership must develop will power. India must send effective signals to terror handlers that talks would be an exercise in futility if acts of terror inspired from across the border are not reined in.