…..And the Prime Minister Condemns ---- A Citizens Anguish

At around 7:35 p.m. on Tuesday evening, Jaipur lost 60 people to seven serial blasts that ripped through some of the most crowded areas in the Pink City. The count is likely to rise, as in a situation that is typical of India, the grievously wounded did not get medical help on time, the government hospitals did not have the resources to treat the number of people that were brought in and so on and so forth ….

A short while after the blasts, a message from India’s Prime Minister flashed across the various news channels “The Prime Minister Condemns the Incident”. This again as typical a reaction as you will get from our leaders. Obviously Mr. Prime Minister, we expect you to condemn the incident, and we don’t, by any stretch of the imagination expect you to ‘Applaud” the incident. What we want to know is; what if anything are you going to do about it?

Just how many times have we heard the same lines parroted by successive Prime Ministers, Home Ministers, and the seemingly infinite number of honorable leaders who queue up to condemn such incidents? Don’t they get bored? Don’t they feel Angry? Don’t they feel guilty about their own incompetence? I can go on and on as the questions are endless.

News is just trickling in that the State Government or is it the Center, has just declared a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the dead. In India, there is a price for everything, for the living and the dead. No sooner does a catastrophe, disaster, or terrorist attack occur, and then the government announces a compensation package. No, they don’t wait for a day or two, the announcement is immediate. You see, our leaders have put a price on every citizen of India. Some are worth a lakh or two; others are worth a little more.

The accountability of our leaders stops with the dole out of cash. This allows them to sleep at nights (This is taking into consideration that they couldn’t earlier). So, back to the condemnation; you condemn, you declare compensation, call for peace and harmony, and then move out to the next problem. Is that it Mr. Prime Minister?

It’s pretty simple really, in India the cost of a persons life (according to recent figures) = 5 Lakh Rupees. This is of course in the case of terrorist attacks, at other times the cost goes down.

I think the prevailing dollar rates might also have something to do with the price of an individual’s life in India. But, I am not too sure. We have to get a statement from the Prime Minister!

It might go something like this “Owing to the recent inflation….. Increasing oil prices……The cost of an Indian has gone down….. I apologize for this state of affairs…. I promise the common man…. Next time…… a bigger amount….. I will talk to the people concerned…….”

After all, India is suffering at the hands of on an ever increasing population? What’s a less Indian or Two? Right! Call up George Bush. Hey George, You Know What… There are about 60 less Indians who would be consuming rice…wheat… and other products. Might just affect the world food prices…. So, How about giving us a few more loans?

When is this going to stop? No, I don’t mean the terrorist attacks. That is a different problem altogether. I am referring to the irresponsible attitude of our leaders? Where does the buck stop? If a company, is not giving the promised return on investment, you can put your blame squarely on those heading the company

So whom do we blame, when such incidents occur? When the country goes to the dogs. When terrorist attacks are only condemned and the perpetrators disappear without a trace, free to have a go at other Indian citizens, in another part of the country. We don’t have NSG commandos monitoring our every move. Dear Mr. Prime Minister, we shop in those crowded market places, we pray in those temples, mosques, churches and gurudwaras. We use the public transport systems. We watch movies in theatres. Who is going to protect us? You…… After all you are our supreme leader. It’s your responsibility, isn’t it? Correct me if I am wrong. I am not as educated as you, you see. So, your perspective might be different.

Maybe the buck does not stop at your door. Maybe it stops at my neighborhood paanwaala’s door? It would be better if it could. At least I could ask him some direct questions.

As the images of the recent tragedy flash across the screen, all I pray for is that, let the people I know, be safe. That’s all I can do isn’t it… and write this anguished piece of what could be called diatribe. It’s going to be read by my friends and family. But it’s not going to be read by the people who this piece is aimed at. This dear friend is the story of an Indian citizen.

The common people in India are walking blindfold, hands tied behind their backs, to their execution every day. And what do the people in charge do? Nothing much… Oh sorry! They Condemn!