A Solemn Day

Interesting day it has been today and this being highly above expectations. The morning dawned gloomy and moreover it being 26/11… one year since Mumbai was attacked by a Pak-based terrorist group.

Interesting in what sense?
I saw dear Parliamentarians creating a ruckus in the House. Honorable Speaker had to stand and make sure that all was peaceful again. She had to interfere when two veteran politicians failed to get each other’s point across. Whatever be their intentions… all those bunch of politicians love behaving like sulking teenagers for minor reasons.

The Leader of Opposition raised the issue of compensation in the House. He raised this issue on the First Anniversary of the horrifying terror attack. As Honorable Speaker said- today, 26/11, is a solemn day. As respect for martyrs’ souls, we should come together, cross political divides and show the nation that we all are Indians and United.

L.K. Advani had his own reasons for choosing this very day to open up the debate. BJP MPs had their own reasons to throw their opinions at Pranab Mukherjee. But is their no shame left in the government regarding this very issue? Out of 403 victims of the attack (Yes, Mr. Advani was kind enough to share the statistics), only 118 were given compensation by the Government! What has been the Home Ministry doing?!

Alright, let us say today IS a wrong day to argue in the Parliament. But this issue had to be raised some or the other day. No one questions the right of the Opposition to raise issues. Yes, maybe they were wrong to do this on 26/11. Maybe they were politicizing the issue or maybe they were not. But the Government, instead of deflecting these accusations, should make sure who is at fault. And undo the shameless lapse of duty.

It is funny how stuff goes on and it is funny how people think. Our State Home Minister, R. R. Patil, resigned from his chair after the terror attack, owing to his failure in taking necessary security precautions. Within a year, he is back in that very chair. It is laughable. How gargantuan can one be in being shameless? Yes, that IS the only word I’ve got for him at the moment.

Today is a solemn day, yes. Today is a day where we should show the world we are united. And today is a day where we should start making Change happen if that’s not happening already.

India is united. The controversies regarding regionalism and communal divide are paid but limited attention. It is painful that only terrorist attacks, condemning politicians and cricket matches are real proofs of our unity.

Leaving aside the manner in which the issue was raised, leaving aside the thoughts whether 26/11 was politicized again or not; I am with the fact that the issue of this seriousness was raised in the Parliament today. This is only because I hope that some steps will be taken by the Home Ministry in this direction.

So what if the day has to be 26/11? Let us pay homage to those souls by doing something instead of just debating, staying silent or praying.