Mumbai Terrorist Attack: How Long With This Charade Go On?

Enough is enough.  Our people and institutions have suffered too long from terrorism.  The time has come for us to take effective steps.  India is not short in brain power to stop this terrorism juggernaut. 
 
The recent terrorist massacre in Mumbai was a horror of horrors that caused a wave of grief that transcended national boundaries and impacted the hearts and minds of people in many countries.  Many people who have visited Mumbai in the past and have memories of the serene atmosphere around the Gateway of India and the breathtaking promenade fronting the Arabian Sea felt outraged.  For me it was as if someone attacked my own home, since I once lived in that area.
 
After I graduated from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, and before I moved to New York for higher education, I lived and worked in an area that is within walking distance from the Gateway of India.  I have very vivid memories of frequenting the renowned Sea Lounge restaurant at the Taj Mahal hotel, the Yacht Club, the Regal Cinema, the Leopold Café and strolling on the Colaba Causeway, Cuffe Parade and Nariman Point.
 
When I heard that a bunch of murderous terrorists armed to the teeth came ashore on the same promenade of the Gateway on the Thanksgiving weekend, and let loose a horrible rampage of murder and destruction on that gorgeous and serene strip of land in Colaba and Nariman Point, I felt as if someone has punched me in the face.
 
I feel very angry as to how and why such an outrageous mayhem could occur in a prestigious part of Mumbai, and the dynamic center of the financial & business infrastructure and entertainment industry in India, one of the premier powers on the world stage today.   It is hard for me to believe that the lack of public security in this part of Mumbai was so patchy that a dozen foreign terrorists could impose so much carnage for almost three days.
 
For about a year now I have been hearing almost every month of random bomb blasts and terrorist attacks in various cities in India.  Every time an attack occurs we hear government ministers and politicians talk tough and assure the public that they will not allow such mayhem and that progress has been made in tracking down the culprits.  But soon enough another attack occurs in another city and the same government ministers issue yet another reassuring statement.
 
How long will this charade go on?  Our country is not short of resources and brain power to build a homeland security apparatus that can stop this terrorism juggernaut.  Compare it to US where after the 9/11/01 terrorist attack the government has taken tough measures; the result is that no more such attacks have occurred in US since then.  Unfortunately in India the preparedness of the government at all levels, central, state, municipal to combat terrorists efficiently and to forestall terrorist attacks is not adequate.
 
India is a great democracy with a fairly free-wheeling atmosphere for all.  In the last twenty years  the economy, industry and enterprise in India has mushroomed to world class heights and our resurgence on the world stage has made many people in other countries envious of us.  Thus some foreign elements are bent on stopping our national growth, destabilizing us and creating discord and tension in the society by exploiting the diversity of religion, ethnicities and political affiliations.
 
These destructive elements, jealous of our nation’s remarkable progress on all fronts, are constantly plotting to cause harm to us.  They know fully well that they can not compete with us in any arena including the military.  But they have a strong desire to punch us and give us a bloody nose every so often to vent their frustration.  Unfortunately even though we know who these people are we do not take effective steps to eliminate them. 
 
But enough is enough.  Our people and our institutions have suffered for too long from terrorism.  Time has come now that we take effective steps and root out these destructive elements, wherever and whoever they may be, to prevent this ongoing menace to the common people of India. 
 
What is most regrettable is that some misled Muslims in other countries are abusing the sublime religion of Islam to brainwash a few Muslims to foster terrorist attacks on India.  The holy Islamic word Jihad which is clearly defined in Quran and Hadeeth (the sayings of the prophet) as struggle against your own bad instincts and against coercive oppression from others on the helpless, is being grossly abused and exploited to launch murderous attacks on defenseless and unsuspecting civilian.  It should be noted that in almost all terrorist attacks in India in recent years about one-fourth to one-third victims have been Muslim civilians too. 
 
In recent months most Muslim organizations and institutions in India have condemned terrorism and those Muslims who perpetrate them in categorical terms.  Muslim clerics in India have issued Fatwas (religious edicts) stating clearly that terrorism is a repulsive act of war against the basics of Islam and is strictly forbidden.  In the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai many Muslim organizations refused to allow the burial of the dead bodies of the terrorists, who were Muslims from Pakistan, in any Muslim cemetery, as they considered these terrorists as having profaned the teachings of Islam.
 
Today we Indians and our government have to go beyond condemnations and condolences and expressions of grief and take effective deterrent action to stop this cycle of the scourge of terrorism.  We must give adequate notice and opportunity to governments of countries from where terrorist attacks originate that they root out the terrorist organizations from their soil.  But if they are unwilling or unable to do so our own security forces should do that. 
 
At the same time our homeland security apparatus should also take steps to eliminate any and all domestic groups and elements who are exploiting the discontent of the people to indulge in terrorist activities with an eye on political or electoral gains in an election year.