Sunday 30 November 2008

Anger against political class: Martyr Unnikrishnan's father snubs Kerala CM


Slain NSG commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's father drove out Kerala Chief Minister K Achuthanandan who had come to the martyr's house in Bangalore.

The incident not just reflects the frustration and anger of the citizens with the political class but also shows the contempt with which they are being viewed after the Mumbai terrorist attacks. Unnikrishnan's father didn't allow Achuthanandan and the Home Minister to enter the house.

This is the latest manifesation of the society's anger with the politicians. Earlier the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh landed in controversy for touring the Tajmahal Hotel site on Sunday and taking along his son and director Ram Gopal Verma.

His home minister RR Patil had caused outrage by terming the terror strikes as a 'small incident in a big city'. The first man to go was Home Minister Shivraj Patil. Amid mounting anger more heads may roll in days to come. The surge of anger was such that across the nation, citizens spoke in the same voice.

Saturday 29 November 2008

Home Minister Shivraj Patil submits resignation


Facing mounting pressure to step down in wake of the terrorist strikes in India at repeated intervals, Home Minister Shivraj Patil submitted his resignation on Sunday.

He sent it to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for a final decision. However, it is expected that it would be accepted because of the tremendous public anger in the country over the failure of the state to anticipate and prevent the terror attacks in Mumbai.

The attacks left 183 dead (officially) in Taj Hotel, Oberai Hotel, Nariman House, Leopold Cafe, Mumbai CST station and other locations where terrorists fired at indiscriminately, lobbed grenades and used explosives for mass casualties.

It had taken over 60 hrs for Army-Naval commandos-NSG-Police and other forces to rescue the hostages. Patil has taken moral responsibility albeit a little too late. It appears that P Chidambaram may be handed over his charge, with Prime Minister holding the finance portfolio.

However, this is not enough. The National Security Advisor MK Narayanan and heads of security agencies should also be forced to resign. Else they should be sacked. Heads must roll as a shakeup is necessary after such a terrible terrorist strike.

Wednesday 26 November 2008

Firing, blasts across Mumbai: Terrorist attack leaves 178 dead

Over 178 persons were killed in an unprecedented terrorist attack at over half-a-dozen locations including hotels, hospitals and railway station in Mumbai on Wednesday evening.

Indiscriminate firing and explosions took place across the financial capital of India. The terrorists were earlier firing at different places in a radius of three kilometers in Southern Mumbai.

The first report came from Taj Hotel where the sounds of gunshots were reported. Later there was a similar report from Capital Cinema Hall and Colaba. Initial TV footage showed bloodstains outside Taj Hotel.

There was also an explosion heard near Oberai Hotel. Two bomb blasts also occurred at various places including in a taxi, said Star TV News channel. Four militants were trapped inside hotel and police had reached the place.

There was also firing at Leopold Hotel and Mumbai CST station. It was learnt that AK 47 was used in firing. The security agencies had accepted that it was indeed a terrorist strike. The injured persons were being taken to hospitals. It was not clear which terrorist group was involved in the attack.

Till late night nothing was clear as the number of incidents ranged from four to seven in different reports. Meanwhile, the police had declared a high-alert and commandos were handed over operation to rescue the hostages.

The local trains were also stopped. The number of persons who died in the terror attacks kept on increasing through the night.

Senior officials including an ATS officer, an ACP and many others lost their lives. TV channels showed images of the deadly strikes. A police car was hijacked by terrorists. Some terrorists were arrested also.

Sunday 9 November 2008

Deshdrohi: Movie on anti-immigrant violence in Mumbai

Ham mehmaan ko bhagvaan samajhte haiN
Kabhi UP, Bihar aa kar dekhna....

These are the lines from Deshdrohi, a movie focussing on the anti-immigrant violence in Mumbai, which is making waves across the country.

Though the preview scenes aren't impressive, the movie might just click because of the timing of release. Kamal Khan, the producer of the movie, is also playing the lead role.

The film has already got good publicity. At least, in Northern India, it is already projected to be a hit due to MNS chief Raj Thackeray's tirade against people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

The recent killing of a Bihar youth, Rahul Raj, in Mumbai has also been incorporated in the movie. Though the film was in the making for over a year, the sudden spurt in violence against people from UP and Bihar, has come as a short in the arm for the makers of the movie. Even if it looks like a B grade movie and Kamal Khan appears imitating Rajkumar, the promos are amusing.

Kamal Khan, however, says that he made the film not for making money alone but because it was his passion. Replying to a question on NDTV regarding the success the movie might achieve due to the ongoing controversy, Khan said that the film may make a few crores extra due to the controversy, but he is not banking on it alone and is rich enough to pay Rs 12 crore as Income Tax annually.

Other than his interest in movies, Khan runs a successful business.Gracy Singh plays the role of lead actress and it is probably a coincidence that Rahul Raj was already name of a character in the movie. The Censor board has cleared the movie. Barely a week is left for the movie to be released in theatres across the country.

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