Mumbai Awakening

Breaking News ‘Big B slept with a .32 revolver last night. He writes about Bombay on his blog’ Your are watching ‘scared & angry residents’ live.
After over 42 hours, since Bombay’s sovereignty & freedom was shamelessly and aggressively assaulted, residents far and wide have awakened to many questions on national security. Is it that easy to enter a country like India and blow our guts out? Why was there an unattended coastal border in the first place, when this is not the first time we've been vulnerable through the sea.The assault was launched at 9:30 on a Wednesday evening but an all party meeting was only called for 16 hours later. Frightening, the speed with which we respond to national crisis.

For the last 28 hours I’ve watched the words ‘final assault’ flash across many news channels. But faster than a breath of ease, each time comes the news of fresh firing and grenade attacks clouding screens again.

Sadly at a time like now when the nation needs to be hand held by it’s leaders, media is used as a loose prostitute to satisfy agenda’s extraneous to national security. Narendra Modi’s address of the attack being one waged on the entire country and not on Bombay alone was nothing short of puky! The crisis changes, but the speeches remain the same. I wish our leaders were half as creative as the terrorists and would come up with better than ‘I’m going to call for a meeting with the army, navy etc’ or the home Minister’s who ‘will suggest to the State Govt to give more funds to tackle terrorism’. ‘The Indian PM will have a phone conversation with Pakistan to say we will not tolerate such cowardly acts – this all sounds very reassuring!

Some media channels remain irresponsible and at loose. After 30 hours of divulging details on the operation like, how many commandos have been para dropped, the angles from which the building is surrounded, the top down operation, the coded signals being made, even the positions being taken by the Mumbai commando’s outside Taj etc I’m confused, should I feel happy knowing that something is being done or scared that our heroes are exposed.

36 hours later, channels justify, that there is no access to live telecast from inside the TAJ and Oberoi. Once again, we play dumb by underestimating a handful of terrorists that have waged this urban warfare and have the nation’s navy, the army, and the commandos all at ransom!

Marcos live- ‘The terrorists knew the inside of Taj very well, but we didn’t and hence movement was slow'. That’s how difficult it is for the govt to keep blue prints of highly influential buildings that some young fucks get into our own house, chase us in our own guly and then escape leaving us trapped.

As we see bodies and people dragged out of Taj, the camera also pans on ground policemen who are no doubt in the line of fire but their lives are not important enough to be sheltered by bullet proof jackets. ‘Every one within the firing range should be protected’ – another issue to be discussed Mr. Home Minister?

‘Mumbai’s spirit is not broken’ the dignitaries very proudly declare. Which Mumbai are you taking about? All those shocked into their shells or those who have no choice but to go about earning their bread. Or are you talking about the Mumbai, sitting 7 seas away constantly making reassuring calls to their loved ones.
I’m sorry but Mumbai’s spirit is shaken and emotionally paralyzed, so stop your patronizing bullshit.

40 hours later there are fresh attacks and firing at new locations. Fresh firing at the Taj, Hostages feared dead at the Oberoi.

A TOI journalist on his way to cover the Leopold Café blast, heard shots at the CST station, made his way to the station, sneaked up the stairs and took pictures of the two assailants. But somehow it was impossible for our special force to swing into action and turn those two into tombs.

MARCO – ‘A very determined lot & remorseless’, the fidayeens almost sound more effecient & heroic.

43 hours later the mournful Wednesday night still hasn’t seen daylight.

Tired, frustrated and in need of an answer,
An Indian.