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26/11 changed us.
It was not just the most brutal terror attack on our soil but it was way more sinister in its ambition and objectives.
This thread details how our leaders, media, celebrities, intellectuals, and even our citizens failed to respond properly.
It was not just the most brutal terror attack on our soil but it was way more sinister in its ambition and objectives.
This thread details how our leaders, media, celebrities, intellectuals, and even our citizens failed to respond properly.
Let's start with how our politicians responded-
2008 was a different time than now. We were used to watching bomb blasts every month.
Terror attacks on our cities were so common that on the first day even with all the gory visuals that we saw on tv, we were hardly surprised.
2008 was a different time than now. We were used to watching bomb blasts every month.
Terror attacks on our cities were so common that on the first day even with all the gory visuals that we saw on tv, we were hardly surprised.
Our country was ruled by a party that relied heavily on the 'secular' vote and that meant giving free hand to terrorists of some kind and creating a bogey of so called “Saffron Terror”.
Pakistanis wanted to blame ‘Hindu terrorism’ and they did everything possible to achieve that.
Terrorists were wearing Kalwa (sacred tread that David Headley got from Siddhivinayak Temple).
They were also carrying id cards with Hindu names.
Terrorists were wearing Kalwa (sacred tread that David Headley got from Siddhivinayak Temple).
They were also carrying id cards with Hindu names.
Pakistani media was already running conspiracy theories about these terrorists being Hindu.
If not for supreme sacrifice by Tukaram Omble who caught Kasab alive, I am pretty sure our secular govt would have happily obliged Pakistanis in blaming Hindus.
If not for supreme sacrifice by Tukaram Omble who caught Kasab alive, I am pretty sure our secular govt would have happily obliged Pakistanis in blaming Hindus.
Why do I say this? Just a few years after the attacks, Digvijay Singh along with Mahesh Bhatt launched a book titled, 26/11: RSS ki Saazish? (26/11: An RSS Conspiracy?) authored by Aziz Burney, the then editor-in-chief of Sahara Urdu newspaper.
After a few days of terror attacks, Maharashtra's Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh visited the ravaged Taj hotel for a tour with his son Ritiesh and Bollywood director Ram Gopal Varma.
Yes, this was the seriousness of our terror response.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/deshmukh-visit-to-taj-with-ram-gopal-varma-sparks-anger/story-UToPH8FieAjo9qo4pCOekM.html
Yes, this was the seriousness of our terror response.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/deshmukh-visit-to-taj-with-ram-gopal-varma-sparks-anger/story-UToPH8FieAjo9qo4pCOekM.html
Another politician was playing Raj from DDLJ.
Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra R.R Patil was quoted as saying: “Small things do happen in big cities. They wanted to kill 5,000 people, we have minimised the damage.” https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/deputy-cm-rr-patil-talks-himself-into-trouble/articleshow/3777209.cms
Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra R.R Patil was quoted as saying: “Small things do happen in big cities. They wanted to kill 5,000 people, we have minimised the damage.” https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/deputy-cm-rr-patil-talks-himself-into-trouble/articleshow/3777209.cms
Now let's talk about the response by the central govt and PM Manmohan Singh.
Let's forget the fact that we didn't respond militarily because we wanted to maintain some moral high ground.
But why did we sign the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement where we lost the same moral ground?
Let's forget the fact that we didn't respond militarily because we wanted to maintain some moral high ground.
But why did we sign the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement where we lost the same moral ground?
This agreement was signed within one year of the Mumbai attacks where instead of taking Pakistan into account, India legitimised Pakistan's allegations regarding India"s role in Balochistan.
This was a blunder of epic proportions. https://www.indiatoday.in/latest-headlines/story/mammohan-singhs-balochistan-blunder-52425-2009-07-20
This was a blunder of epic proportions. https://www.indiatoday.in/latest-headlines/story/mammohan-singhs-balochistan-blunder-52425-2009-07-20
Now Let's talk about our celebrities -
SRK in a 2010 interview with NDTV regarding the exclusion of Pak Player in IPL said "It (Pakistan) is a great neighbour to have. We are great neighbours, They are good neighbours. Let us love each other."
SRK in a 2010 interview with NDTV regarding the exclusion of Pak Player in IPL said "It (Pakistan) is a great neighbour to have. We are great neighbours, They are good neighbours. Let us love each other."
Salman Khan in an interview with Pakistani channel Express TV said: "Too much hype has been created around the 26/11 attacks because elite people were targetted.
Attacks have happened in trains and small towns too, but no one talked about it so much."
Attacks have happened in trains and small towns too, but no one talked about it so much."
He also said: "Everybody knows that the Pakistani government was not behind it and it was a terrorist attack. Our security had failed. We have had lot of attacks earlier, and all of them were not from Pakistan. They were from within." https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/salman-khan-on-26-11-comments-i-think-i-messed-up-so-sorry-431158
Let's talk about the role of media-
Our 'brave' media with their relentless pursuit of TRPs ended up harming the lives of victims by giving each and every detail of security operations. This was evident even to the Supreme Court. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/26/11-attack-Media-pulled-by-Supreme-Court-for-its-role/articleshow/16054201.cms
Our 'brave' media with their relentless pursuit of TRPs ended up harming the lives of victims by giving each and every detail of security operations. This was evident even to the Supreme Court. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/26/11-attack-Media-pulled-by-Supreme-Court-for-its-role/articleshow/16054201.cms
From their Judgment -
"It is beyond doubt that the way their
operations were freely shown made the task of the security forces not only exceedingly difficult but also dangerous and risky"
http://www.wbja.nic.in/wbja_adm/files/Md%20Ajmal%20Md%20Amir%20Kasab%20%20Abu%20Mujahid%20Vs%20State%20of%20Maharashtra.pdf
"It is beyond doubt that the way their
operations were freely shown made the task of the security forces not only exceedingly difficult but also dangerous and risky"
http://www.wbja.nic.in/wbja_adm/files/Md%20Ajmal%20Md%20Amir%20Kasab%20%20Abu%20Mujahid%20Vs%20State%20of%20Maharashtra.pdf
Indian news channels were also happy to provide an audience to terrorists.
Yes, these terrorists called news channels and these channels with their sophisticated brain thought it was a good idea to air their views to an already panicked nation.
Yes, these terrorists called news channels and these channels with their sophisticated brain thought it was a good idea to air their views to an already panicked nation.
When Barkha was asked about her role, her response was Why is everyone after me when everyone did the same.
Now, let's talk about our Intellectuals response.
While there are many I only want you all to read this nauseating piece written by Ms. Arundhati Roy where she practically justified the attacks because Hindus have done bad things too. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/dec/12/mumbai-arundhati-roy
While there are many I only want you all to read this nauseating piece written by Ms. Arundhati Roy where she practically justified the attacks because Hindus have done bad things too. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/dec/12/mumbai-arundhati-roy
Last, how did we as citizens responded to terror attacks-
We voted the same govt back to power under whose watch the biggest terror attack on our soil happened.
We never demanded answers.
We forgot and forgave.
We moved on.........
We voted the same govt back to power under whose watch the biggest terror attack on our soil happened.
We never demanded answers.
We forgot and forgave.
We moved on.........
