It was a busy Sunday today. I had no visitors, no phone calls not much SMSs. But it was my busiest day on Social Media. Friends updates on Facebook, Orkut,Gmail with status updates, news links and perspectives flowing from all over.
Then suddenly one mail in my in-box got my attention. It was from an friend and very respected media industrialist in India, Ronnie Screwvala. He was responding to an article written on the Wall Street Journal titled India’s Antiterror Blunders
I must admit that Ronnie has very passionately described the feeling of all Indian’s in this email he sent to the Editor. Am posting the same with his permission.
Ronnie is also the producer of Rang De Basanti a film which had become a cult with the youth I can see that many in India share similar emotions like students in the movie.
Would love to know your views...do u agree with Ronnie???
Dear Mr.Dhume
I was indeed very disappointed to read your article with the above headline this morning
It does take very little to criticise and a lot more to actually Do , as we all know.
I think for an article to originate from someone residing in India and New delhi, and within a day of this unprecendented attack, and so critical of India in an Intrnational paper, is not what one would have liked to read
Let me put some things in perspective for you and for the Editor of WSJ and AWSJ who I have cc on this mail.
a) Absolutely no one in the world has encountered such a hostage attack of terrorism in more than a decade or even more
b) Everyone today – when thinking of a terrorist attack – would look at what they have all been subjected to –ie.. suicide squads who create maximum damage with bombing and out and then the recovery process starts.
c) This one is unprecendented- since maybe the US Iranian hostage crisis or Entebbe
d) Yes the US reacted very well to their 9/11 , BUT their reaction was more about rehabilitation and salvage and coming together and while Mayor Guilliany was a much better communicator than anyone who spoke for India – he was holding a city and a nation together and showing how the RECOVERY process was in order
e) Had there been 20 terrorists holding out at the world trade centre with hostages + to blow up the towers, it would have taken their entire forces more than 50 hours I am sure and who knows what outcome.
f) Intelligence failure happens to the most modern and well equipped countries too.
g) Our Forces acted as swiftly and bravely as anyone in the world. Their agenda was not to do this in the “shortest” time but to ensure maximum safetly of not just hostages but many more guests in the two hotels and ensuring that the terrorists were not driven to the worst – Blow the buildings – as that would have been a monumental tragedy.
h) Its easy to say – if the terrorists had such a great briefing on the layout of the hotels – why were the armed forces given the same……well firsty since the terrosist spent days ona rece and were given no plan of the hotel and so for the armed commandos it was about jumping right into it
i) At this attack more than 600 people were evacuated while firing raged , and both buildings were saved from blowup which would have resulted in more lives.
j) I WOULD NOT CALL THE END RESLUTS OF THIS ATTACK AS “A BLUNDER “ AT ALL…NO one in the world has faced terrorism like we faced it for the three days , no one.
Having said that , there is not one citizen in India today who is not angry with our politicians and the lack of political will, and the recurrence of terrorism but IN SPITE of that I do believe this was and will go down as one of the world’s more devastating and difficult Hostage attacks but also one with led to resolution within time and not allowed to reach the scale it could
I also think there is a lot we need to do as a country, and I think now more than ever , most Indians also appreciate that while the world has been quite critical of Pres Bush, - he has been able to ensure that America does not see another terrorists attack since 2001………………….but I think this is the time for us to articulate that India has it challenges no doubt, but on this one we did act with speed, valour and focused on the task….to save the lives of all trapped……and let me remind you that the maximum casualities that occurred at the Taj and Oberoi happened in the first three hours of indiscriminate fire …and post that for the next 40-45 hours there was very contained collateral damage to lives.
Ronnie
Image credits (REUTERS/Arko Datta)
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Comments (57)
I totally agree with Ronnie Screwvala.
It is shame that WSJ thinks that it is because of Indian Muslims that this has happened.
We need to realize that it is not because of divided house we see such horrendous acts, but because of terrorists being germinated in places like Pakistan and Bangladesh, and too through money given by US to support war against terror. It is high time and US should take some serious actions. No more it is constrained by its need of supporting NATO, especially when the member itself has become a threat.
Thanks God, Islamophobia does not percolerate in India as is the case with the West post 9/11. A terrorist is a terrorist, someone out to spread terror, notwithstanding his/her religious leanings. Therefore, it is wrong to say ’Islamist Terrorists’ when we do not have terms such as ’Christian Terrorists’ or ’Hindu Terrorists’.
I don’t agree with the Media Moughal Ronnie Screwvala. We should refrain from turning xenophobic. If someone points out our follies and mistakes, we should take them in the stride and make attempt to learn lessons so that such blunders are not repeated.
But let sanity promoted.
We should learn lesson from 26/11.
Have you hear the Latest news that the Chairman of the Tata Group who owns the Taj Mahal ownership says that they had been warned about the possible attack. Yet there was no increased security or preparations by the hotel.
Guests were not informed of the attack even after it started. Guests were also hit by flying glass - something that also needs to be addressed by hotels and office buildings everywhere.
Sorry, the name is ”Sandeep” not ”Saneep”.
Typo.
no hotel and hotel security team can be prepared for what hit them......
this was not a terrorist with a gun and a belt bomb... they were trained commandos with’s 100s of grenades and thousands of bullets and who were planning this for months
Strange that none of the media (TV or Print) have picked this up at
all. Or have they been deliberately ignoring it?
Have a look at the attached pictures of one of the terrorists.
Notice the orange thread / band on his right hand.
Tying a red thread or cord around the wrist is a Hindu practice and it is unlikely a Muslim, especially one politicized enough to carry out
an attack such as this, would observe it. I think this provides more evidence that this was a false flag operation or at least an attack by a non-Muslim group.
For more information about the significance of the red thread see wikipedia.
Additionally, the terrorists inside the Nariman House Building were
reported to have stocked up on supplies on Wednesday evening, buying
not just food items but liquor, among other things, from a local store
Again, it is highly unlikely that a Muslim, let alone a ’Mujahid’, and especially one politicized enough to carry out such an attack, would consume liquor in normal life, let alone hours before his inevitable ’martyrdom’.
Its very possible that the Indian political party ”BJP” carried out the attacks since the elections in India are near.
let me the solve the mystery behind the red or orange thread. It was a plot to show that the attack was undertaken by an Hindu group.
Please check orange thread tied on the wrist in this case. (from Gujrat Muslim massacre)
If we go by your logic Mr.Prabhunarayan, this will be a plot by Muslims.
Wake up.
Zoom in above Picture
Zoom in of Picture 1.
Two nuclear powers are now setting their sights on each other. These two countries have been fighting each other for so long. Over what? Kashmir? Religious differences? If anybody thinks that nuclear weapons are off the table, they are only fooling themselves. This is going to get messy. India has already had their Parliament attacked and now this. Bad things are coming.
It is indeed possible that the attacker could tie a red thread around his wrist to fool people into thinking he was a Hindu - a subtle indication.
However, why not go the whole way and wear a turban (perhaps with a concealed protective helmet)?
What we have to look at are the reasons for the attack; first they were said to be looking for British and American passports holders. Okay so they have something against the British and American foreign policy. During the attacks many, many Indians were killed. Why? The next reason given was that they were ’avenging’ Kashmir. If so, then why look for British and Americans? Now it gets even stranger, they were based in Nariman House, a guest house for Israelis. Strange place for a ”muslim terrorist” to find a bed and food. They end up killing many Israelis, but not before various blogs start screaming that this appears to be a Mossad-sponsored black-op.
Now I don’t know who carried out the attack, nor who didn’t. But I do know that not everything is as clear-cut as some Indian politicians and the Western Media in general are making out.
{Hey How you post pictures with comments?}
That is nice, the attacker in the picture is wearing a Versace shirt.
Remember the number one rule of jihad always look stylish.
Arsalan, which terrorist group do you belong to? How much they are paying you for all this propaganda here? And coming back to the thread, yes, it’s a Hindu practice, Jews too follow this, but killing innocent people is only followed by muslims. Right? And this is what this pakistani terrorist in the picture did. Killed hundreds of innocent people to give birth to another terrorist in the making like you from the blood. But the next time when you’ll come with threads - red or orange - and guns in your hands we’ll recognize you.
Arsalan, you have come out with a fanciful suggestion. Instead of admitting that these hardcore terrorists were trained by elements in Pakistan, you are busy in fabricating the story that these were the BJP terrorists.
As far as the consumption of liquor by Muslims are concerned, you are living in the fool’s paradise if you believe that all Muslims are teetaller.
Anil, I believe you are a Hindu like Vishal. Correct me if I am wrong.
But tying a red thread or cord around the wrist is a Hindu practice, or isn’t it?
All I am saying is it is highly unlikely that a Muslim, let alone a ’Mujahid’, and especially one politicized enough to carry out such an attack, would consume liquor in normal life, let alone hours before his inevitable ’martyrdom’.
Arsalan you have not researched the topic much before making such a post.
The terrorists even made phone calls to local TV stations explaining their cause.
In India this is not looked as a hindu or mustlim terrorist the point is that terrorist is terrorist...
if we make this religious this will lead into more fights which is what the terrorists want.
The act is similar to the assassination of Mrs Bhutto and the destruction of the Marriot hotel in Pakistan what will you call that ??
Vishal, I think you have not researched the subject very well. These ”Hindu” terrorists were also speaking in Marathi.
If you cant use google, I can help you to provide you links, from Indian newspapers only.
Please don`t hesitate to ask my help, if required.
Also once you visit places like Dubai... you get to see the real conduct of Muslims, Christians, Hindus and people of all religions.
The Samjhota Express Incident and Malegaon was also alleged to be the handiwork of ISI/Jihai’s .
Surprisingly investigation points out to Indian Army personnel. Again surprisingly Karkare who was investigating the matter is one of the first one to have died in Mumbai.
Isn’t it all strange, an high official who was investigating Hindu militant case was shot.
Another link from Indian Newspaper
Karkare had called on veteran police officer Julio Ribeiro just a day before he was killed Wednesday night.
”He came to me because he was looking for someone to hold his hand,” Ribeiro told IANS on phone from Mumbai while stressing that Karkare was not a man to be politically influenced.
Karkare was unhappy about BJP questioning his integrity
Yes Arsalan, I am a Hindu and I am not ashamed of my origin. I know you are a Muslim but does it make a differene if you are a Muslim and I am a Hindu. We may differ in our perspectives.
I suggest you another fanciful theory. One terrorist was not shot dead by Indian security agencies. He is the same one who had a red thread tied on his wrist.
You abhore red colour. Have you expunged this word from your dictionary? If your country thinks on your line, then red colour should be excluded from the existing colour scheme.
Its orange color, not red color.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalava
The orange thread is called kalava.
arsalan lets not mix the subjects here are the facts
1. The gun in the picture Ajmal Mohammad Amir Kasar (or whatever his name) he is the only one alive and is arrested so we will get the answers soon
2. India has more muslims than Pak. I have many muslims who are my friends, who work for my company, do business with and we celebrate all festivals hindu, muslim or christian together.
we consider this as an act of terror.
and no-one is here to prove if they were hindu or muslim... if what you say is true i hope the authorities are able to catch the right culprits.
For don’t make it a religious fight.
Also India is not blaming the Pak Govt for this they are blaming the same people who have alleged to kill Mrs. Bhutto and blew up Marriot...
Does this make sense to you?
Ask anyone in India, and he will say its Muslim terrorists.
But it has been proved in past by your own authorities that there is a deep nexus of hindu militants growing up. Whether its nun rape case, Sadhvi case or anything else.
The terrorist who was caught has been identified as a Muslim, which he is not. He is a hindu. Then why the hell Indian police is saying he is a muslim.
Arsalan, Thanks, you could not restrain yourself from picking up the fanciful suggestion of Anil that the arrested terrorist, having red or orange (whatever you suggest) was a Hindu not Muslim.
yes blame the muslims like always
”One police officer who encountered the gunmen as they entered the Jewish centre told the Guardian the attackers were ”white” (all of them? How many of them), although this could mean they were paler-skinned Indians from the country’s north.
”I went into the building late last night,” he said. ”I got a shock because they were white. I was expecting them to look like us. They fired three shots. I fired 10 back.”
Two of the hostages killed were identified as Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife, Rivka, the couple who ran the centre, said a spokesman for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. Their 18-month-old son had been one of three people rescued from the centre on Thursday.
In a telephone interview with CBC News from outside the centre, freelance journalist Arun Asthhana said there are reports that some of the militants had stayed at a guest house there for up to 15 days before the attacks.
”They had a huge mass of ammunition, arms and food there,” Asthhana said.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5KhO9YZBe40
Youtube Video Link
three of the captured terrorists have confessed to being members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, with one of the suspects allegedly from Pakistan’s Peshawar area, and local media report that one of the captured gunmen was identified as Abu Ismail from Faridkot, Pakistan.
And police reportedly intercepted communications between the terrorists in the Punjab language, which is spoken in Pakista
I would also like to make it clear that i am open minded to the prospect of this operation having no ISI involvement at all - I might be one of the very few Indians who can even think along these lines, given what I know to be factual about them and not some Halloween scare stories.
It is possible that Indian intel may uncover terrorist training camp(s) right in India - We have had SIMI - we have always had rogue Islamist elements who routinely carry out small scale attacks, but we have never seen an operation of this scale, precision and planning. Just the scouting along for this attack should have taken them a long time.
Obviously there are some raw feelings here - this is the third terrorist attack on Bombay in the last 15 years and each time we have had significant involvement of organizations ( either Dawood Ibrahim or LeT) that are patronized by the ISI - so the finger pointing for me comes rather easily.
I will gladly eat crow if this had no ISI involvement - rogue or otherwise. We need to get to the bottom of these attacks - every single detail about it.
Feel sorry for what happened in Mumbai but its very stupid to blame it on Pakistan who is suffering most from the USA so called war against terrorism right now..
No one is blaming the Pakistani people. When people say Pakistan is involved, they mean Army/ISI.
The Pakistani govt has the intent but not the balls to check terrorist groups. Pakistani is increasingly becoming a country where the left hand has no clue what the right hand is doing.
No one knows who is in control - probably the reason why people say its a ”failed state”. having said that, there is no doubt that it was carried out by Pakistani civilians. the evidence is mounting.
My heart goes out to the victims of this ghastly act.
I’m so rooting for India.
peace if we (india/pak) start fighting the objectives of the terrorist will be fulfilled.
I assume people who are on this site are rational and can have a civilized discussion.
Lets stick to the topic of terrorism and not about hindu/muslims/jews
Vishal
Thanks for posting. Interesting debate. Agree that publishing such a highly critical Op Ed in an International paper so early on may have been in poor taste, but then again journalists rarely contemplate such details...
That said, def think that now is certainly the time to take a very hard and critical look at all angles of this, including the preparedness of the military, political, and metropolitan machine to manage such sorts of incidents which, sadly, are very much a part of our global scene now.
No one is questioning the army’s courage in managing this thing but certainly there is no excuse for not evaluating and refining tactical strategy around terrorism. It can and should always get better.
I think most would agree that the political machine - and most of the relevant politicians specifically - responded very poorly to this event and the public has to demand accountability. The most critical thing in times like these are strong leaders who can communicate clearly and also comfort the public — especially when an incident stretches out as long as this one did. I have no problem - even from afar - being highly critical of the beurocrats who flailed so miserable in this regard and hope the Indian public applies the heat in the papers and everywhere else. India deserves a lot better.
Gotham, you are telling that hundreds of NSG men, policemen, army personnel deployed to kill handful of ”Hindu” terrorists is a very courageous act.
I agree, with Indian standards.
Bravo! Bravo.
And besides they just look 56 hours. ANy other country would have taken 56 days or 56 weeks.
Bravo, my Indian friends.
You are too strong and powerful.
Arsalan one again I urge you not to
give this discussion a relegious angle
the terrorist can be anyone
hindu,muslim, christian.. bottomline
is we condem this and will not
tolarate this anymore. Citizens of
many countries have died in this tragedy and all are seaking answers
I am sure if any domestic elements are involved the truth will come out.
Vishal, I agree terrorist can be anyone.
But what can I do, if this time its a case of Hindu terrorists. What should I call them?
Are you guys ready to handle the truth? Why isn’t your media has raised questions about the kewala (orange thread) found on terrorists wrists?
Why?
The answer is you guys want a scapegoat. and what could be better than Pakistan.
Arsalan,
Ajmal Amir Kasab (or Azam Amir Kasav) was captured by police after a shootout near the docks in southern Mumbai. He was wounded and feigned being dead, but was picked out by police after he was seen breathing.
Kasab said 20 Pakistanis began training in terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir more than one year ago. The group trained in the Kashmiri camps ”almost five-and-half months, during which the terrorist were taught the use of sophisticated arms and ammunition.”
After the training at the Kashmiri camps, the group was ”given a months leave and were ordered to gather in Karachi after the break for training in boating, rowing and swimming by the Pakistan Navy.”
The terrorists were then given maps and other information on their targets in Mumbai and trained in attacking the targets.
This is clear evidence, that Pakistan was involved. Let me see how you deny that.
Ayushi, I pity you guys. You have been fooled by your own government, and you are happy by blaming others.
Vishal, here is praising his country security people and defending the government actions.
Feel good about it.
But truth might be ugly, but again its a truth.
India does not need external enemies as long as racist Hindu Fundamentalists are deeply penetrated in the establishment. BJP resent the fact that current ruling Congress party is headed by an Italian Sonia Gandhi. Well Congress Party was formed by British A.W Hume. Some times it is easy to occupy a country but it is very hard to subsist that occupation be it Kashmir or Palestine?
The racist ideology of Hindu Supremacist’s and their love affair with Israel and her polices, would bring sleepless nights and terrifying days for the Indians as common Israelis are feelings for long times and Americans have been feeling since 9/11?
Ayushi,
India is considered the world’s largest democracy, but changes of the recent years particularly the treatment of Muslims and the approach of the central Indian government has left major crises beneath India’s socio-cultural layers specially on the Kashmir scene.
The Indian government’s treatment of Kashmiris has not been proper and discriminatory attitude of the Indian security system against religious minorities has led to such hostilities.
Indian government should stop atrocities against minorities and regional discriminations.
Stop killing people in name of Kashmir, Bihar, Assam. Otherwise there would be more attacks, and you guys will do nothing but blame other countries.
The terrorist has also revealed that the ten terrorists, who were highly trained in marine assault and crept into the city by boat, had planned to blow up the Taj Mahal Palace hotel.
But they forgot that it was 105 year old building build during British period, not nowdays buildings which could be blown with few small blows.
This is an act of cowardice, whoever is responsible. I with all people of Pakistan stand with you guys and mourn the death of innocents.
Instead of blaming each others, we should come together and unite.
A common man never like to fight. Its our politicians who are trying to strengthen their vote banks by weakening our relationship.
We need more platform like Instablogs, where we people across the borders can come together and talk.
good point Shomaila..
We need the people who committed this
let it be anyone punished
as far as hindu groups are concerned
i can assure you that no sane
citizen of India is supporting them
and that is why Shiv Sena is not
in power in Maharashtra and BJP
not in India.
It was the BJP government
who had given in to the terrorists during the Airline Hijack...
most of the politicians are all TALK no Action.. The people of India are very very angry not on anyone but on ITS POLITICIANS who were elected by the same people...
These politicians for all parties will be taken to the task because this time the Citizens of India will not take NO for an answer
Thanks Vishal.
No matter what Arsalan or Farrukh says. No sane Pakistani or from any other country can celebrate death of innocent people.
I watch Indian movies and shows and I think your culture is same as ours. I have seen ”Rang de Basanti” as well. It was a brilliant movie. The message was right.
Both of our countries have to fight our politicians. They are the real terrorists.
Long live friendship across borders.
Down with the terrorism.
Arslam,
I want to ask a simple question. I am not asking who is responsible behind the act. I am just asking do you justify killing of the innocent, the people who were having a good time with their families, being shot down.
With no fault of their.
Do you justify this?
Shouldn’t we all come together and feel the pain of those who were not lucky like us?
I strongly condemn killing of innocent. I pay my tributes to them.
But why they are blaming Pakistan for this when its internal politics, when its Hindu fundamentalist, why they are telling its Muslims.
Shomaila, Please ask Indians also.
Arsalan,
Again I said I never asked who is behind all this. I just asked what was the fault of those innocents. What was the reasons why common man was so brutally punished.
Do you think politicians in our country are any better than India?
Shomaila, I also believe in peace. But for there to be true peace in south asia India along with its 1 billion people must forever renounce anti-Pakistani thought.
Just as in Europe it is a crime in many nations to question the severity of the holocaust on the Jews, It should be made illegal in India to question the desperate position of pre and post-independence Indian Muslims and the justitfication of the 1947 Indian partition. The miserable conditions which were inflicted upon Indian muslims by Hindu’s will never be forgotten by the people of Pakistan.
Whilst Pakistan stands ready and willing to fight terrorism, NO country should be under any illusion that Pakistan can be blamed without evidence for such acts of violence. If India has evidence it should take the matter to the International court of criminal justice in The Hague, Netherlands. Indian must desist from blaming Pakistan for all Indian failures and contradictions in Indian society..
First of all we have to think before electing someone. It is not a problem with one political party but none of the political parties in India have solid candidates to rule a country. It also doesnt mean that we dont have intellectual people who can lead the country. There are people who are efficient and highly qualified for these posts but not in the same party.
We have some solutions for this problem.
1. All political parties should come together for the sake of the people of this country and for the name INDIA.
2. I think all the intellectual people in India should sit and come up with a new team (party) which can be unanymously accepted by the people of India and participate in the next elections. And also it is the responsibility of the people of our country not only elect the right person but after electing them we should question them if they are not performing the way that they are intended to...
In general we will elect one person and think that nothing can be done till next elections... why? why cant we question that person at any point of time? Ours is a democratic country, each and everyone of us has a right to question. It is not only at the election time that we can do something. ”we can and we have the right to question anyone who is doing wrong or not performing his duties”. As citizens of our country it is the responsibility of each and every individual in this country to do something good for our country...
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND USE THEM (PROPERLY FOR THE COUNTRYS GOOD).
If think you can you will do...
Friends, in particular from Pakistan, Here are the observations about Mumbai carnage by the New York Times. In its editorial today it writes:
Deccan Mujahedeen, the group that claimed responsibility — the term itself is so chillingly flawed — is unknown. But Indian and American intelligence officials saw signs pointing to Lashkar-e-Taiba, an Islamist group from the disputed region of Kashmir that is increasingly collaborating with the Taliban and Al Qaeda. What makes that especially frightening is that the group received training and support from Pakistan’s intelligence services, before it was officially banned in 2002......
We were heartened when Pakistan’s civilian government immediately agreed to send the new chief of the country’s powerful intelligence agency, the ISI, to India. We hoped that meant the government was confident that the ISI played no role in the attack. Or that it was finally prepared to purge its ranks of all those who have aided and abetted extremists.
Unfortunately, the offer was quickly withdrawn after the Pakistani Army and opposition parties objected. The government then announced that a lower-level intelligence official would go at some point. By Saturday, Pakistani officials were blustering as if they were the victims. Despite all of the recent horrors Pakistan has suffered, its military and intelligence services still do not understand that the terrorists pose a mortal threat to their own country.
The link is http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/01/opinion/01mon1.html?th&emc=th
Terrorist have no religion, they aren’t Hindu, Muslim or Christian. They aren’t people of God or any religion.
And it is a Pakistani myth that Muslims in India are ill-treated or oppressed... shun it guys! We (Muslims in India) couldn’t be more happier anyplace else on earth.
Well there are some very nice view points here, but I’m not sure what is actionable, I mean what can I do to help..this is what i think and it goes in a tanget. Feel free to cry, empathies, get angry, call it rubish, laugh... or start giving.....
http://sumitmehra.blogspot.com/2008/12/root-causes.html
Indian vs Pakistan
Pakistan vs Afghanistan
Afghanistan vs America
Hindu vs Muslim
Muslim vs Jews
Blacks vs Whites
Browns vs Blacks
Whatever, whatever vs whoever, whoever....
Learn to live like brothers, or be ready to perish like fools!