Ten Years of Shame & still on...

This ongoing winter session of our parliament has witnessed uproar and a common tendency for all the parties to agree to disagree. In midst of all this, today the entire parliament came together for a common cause. I wish it was something positive but in essence the members of parliament came together to jointly condemn the Tenth Anniversary of Terror Attack on Parliament and remember the policemen who martyred

Personally, I disdain the usage of the word ‘anniversary’ when it is used in context of any terror attacks. This is because every such attack is an attack on the nation and its sovereignty.  The choice of the ‘venue’ (please pardon my language) might differ but the fact that we have been having so many attacks is worrisome.

Against such a background, the terror attack on the Parliament is perhaps the most questioning act- questioning the intent, morale & willingness of this nation. Our parliament is the utmost symbol of our democracy, so in other words, it is not far fetched to claim that 13^th December 2001 witnessed an attack on our democracy.

Surely we all hate many of our politicians and perhaps in a sarcastic way many might have said that ho jaata toh achcha tha but the fact remains that just like 26^th November 2008, India was attacked on 13^th December 2001 as well. And between these two dates, India has been attacked many times.

This particular attack happened under NDA rule. 5 brave Indian policemen gave their life on that eventful day. The next day, Dy. PM Mr. Lal Krishna Advani suggested the role of a neighbouring nation- all of us know which nation is being discussed. Moreover, the Pakistan High Commissioner to India Me. Ashraf Jehangir Qazi was asked to hand over the active Let & JeM members. It never happened.

Thankfully, NDA’s vision cautioned it to have, in place, some strong  anti terror acts. The parliament attack immediately resulted in POTA (prevention of Terrorist Activities) Act, 2002. results were there to be seen by everyone. Post the parliament attack, india thankfully did not have any other terror attack during the rest of NDA tenure. This Act was cynosure of all the eyes – the eyes of media , Human rights Champions & UPA. So much so that people demanded the revocation of this Act but fact remains that an inherently weak nation needs strong acts like POTA.

Anyways, NDA rule was followed by UPA which very quickly repealed POTA and results are there to be seen. We have had a series of terror attacks since 2004. the saddest part though is the fact that every time such attack happens, media & UPA gets into an over drive asking opposition not to politicize such attacks. I often wonder why? If opposition does not question such terror acts, why have one, in the first place?

For those who might have forgotten, the year 2010 saw a similar attack happening in Chechnya and the attack was well timed as there was a Russian delegation visiting Chechen parliament on the day of the attack. But that attack, unlike the one on our parliament, was different in the result. All the terrorists, involved in Chechen attacks, were dead. They were all killed.

This is the differentiating element. The main perpetrator of Parliament attack continues to live, rather happily, in our jail. Though he has been sentenced to death but there have been many mercy petitions to the tune of asking the Indian Government to change the death punishment. Last heard it was under the consideration.

And this is why I call it 10 years of Shame. In a country, where brave policemen gave their life to save parliamentarians from a terror attack, some people & religious groups have sought mercy for Afzal Guru. He has continued to live a healthy life for the last ten years. There are people like Digvijay Singh willing to jump to their rescue.

Isn’t it shameful? Isn’t it asking of Intent? Families of the policemen, if I am not wrong, returned the gallantry medals but the main villain continues to smile because he knows that some people of our country will be there for him, to protect him.

As long as such people are allowed to live, we will remain a soft nation. It is time for the Congress, UPA & certain religion to start believing & respecting the nation over religion & cheap politics. It is time for every member of media to stop being a monitor & rather act as a judge and demand the death of Afzal Guru.

 For us to survive and being considered a super power, a strong signal needs to be sent to whoever is listening. Immediate death fo Afzal Guru will be the first step in that direction