The Worst is Yet to Come for India
By Subhash K Jha
Shilpa Shetty: "We must immediately accept assistance and advice from other countries who are well - versed with handling terrorism, no shame in that.
And we must reduce Z-level security for politicians and families and spare some of that for the hapless public. But first things first. Increase the salaries of all police and security forces so they don't feel shortchanged.
This would automatically reduce corruption. Politicians need to be proactive and not just reactive. Yes, politicians have failed us, and not for the first time. And to top it all, R R Patil's statement that these SMALL incidents happen in big cities was shocking and careless.
Subhash Ghai: "What we need are educated non-avaricious politicians to change the quality of governance. In the next election we all must vote, and vote for the right leaders. Please remember, weare NOT getting the leaders we deserve. And we are responsible.
Imtiaz Ali: "Ask questions. Stop always compromising and adjusting. Whether to mindless digging of the roads or thoughtless security arrangements. Don't be scared. Don't feel guily, stand tall and pull up whoever is responsible. If we stop taking things lying down during normal times I'm sure such aberrations won't occur
Ranvir Shorey: "We're now a nation at war. Basic military training should be made mandatory for all of us. If we can't be protected by the people we elect to do so, let's find our own protection.
I think there's no hope from the politicians. Maybe we can still count on the bureaucracy if the corruption and greed for power that stems from their bosses, ceases and their work conditions improve.
Vikram Bhatt: "It's time for a new order. This is the storming of the Bastille."
Irrfan Khan:"We need to wake up to our power to vote and not be swayed by false promises. It's clear that politicians don't do anything unless it enhances their vote bank. We need to look for other means of protecting ourselves.
Madhur Bhandarkar: "There's no point in pointing fingers at politicians. The whole machinery has collapsed.
The mood this time is different from the other attacks. People are feeling angry and defeated. Mumbai's mythic spirit of resilience is gone. They want action.
In the coming elections Mumbayites will exercise their franchise far more carefully. We'll get a more accountable and responsible government. And we won't let 26/11 happen again in Mumbai."
Malaika Arora: "The worst has just begun. The government has failed on every count. What we need is the army to bring back order and a sense of security in Maharashtra. The government has failed on every count. Every politician should hide their head in shame. Some of the most vocal ones are already doing that.
Sonu Sood: "Politicians have perpetually failed us. It's time to throw them out of our system. At the moment Mumbai needs a healing hand. All those of us who have been lucky enough to have not suffered losses should come forward to support those who are hurt.
Kunal Kohli: "We've not been defeated by well-trained terrorists but by incompetent politicians. We don't want speeches about investigations.
We want results, answers, action and accountability. One politician calls for a bandh. The other blames the ruling party. One actually has the gall to say 'such' things happen.
Another tries to buy the deceased with money. What about action against people who did this to Mumbai? This time we don't want to move on. We don't want to forget.
Raveena Tandon: "Enough pampering the refugees and immigrants and humanrights activists who go on on and on about the homeless. We in Mumbai now need to protect our homes.
Where were these activists when our innocent Mumbaikars were being killed. Forget about them. Make the laws tighter and leave no loopholes for terrorism. Let's not sit on the same table with countries that harbour terrorism.
The government has failed us. They've legalized illegal Bangladeshis, turned a blind eye to infiltration. We have to deport the illegal immigrants. Amend the constitution so that no politician with criminal antecedents is given ticket to contest the elections.
Above all stand united with our Muslim, Marathi, Bihari, Sikh, Christian, Gujarati and Dalit citizens. Let not the world think we're fragmented from inside.
Nandita Das: "Many thoughts have been crowding my head. I am doing some serious brain-storming with like-minded citizens to think out a plan of action. The time for rhetorics is over.
Anubhav Sinha: "In today's times of absolute ignorance 'terrorism' has become a term like 'automatic' or 'computerized'. These are self-explained or probably unexplained terms. How does an elevator work?
It's automatic, simple! How do cellphone networks function? It's computerized, simple! Why are they terrorists? They're Muslims or better still Pakistanis or Afghanis, simple! But there's more to automatic, computerized and terrorism.
It has social, economic and political roots embedded in our history. The question to be asked is, are there not countries in the world where there's no Islamic terrorism? Failure and success are bi-products of our actions.
I don't think our politicians ever acted correctly. Yes, the intelligence failed. But is our intelligence network half as competent as the Mossad, CIA or M16. Isreal, UK and the UK are as vulnerable as we are.
Intelligence will continue to fail. We need to start questiong who are these people who are ready to blow themselves up.
Mahesh Bhatt: "Inside sources reveal that the worst is yet to come. India is caught in the vortex of terrorism. The political class has consistently failed us. We'd be foolish to imagine that the answers will come from them. We can't help ourselves. And there's no one out there to help us."
Victor Bannerjee: "First of all we need to condemn violence and terror without prejudice towards caste creed or community.
Let's put aside political rhetical rhetorics and suicidal pussyfooting around the enactment of severe and uncomproming laws on terrorism. All citizens of all religion have been victims and perpetrators at some time.
Let's look inwards and see where we need to amend our own morality along with the laws.
