The Verdict On Terror

Dear One,

After spending 31 crore, yes that's right, "THIRTY ONE CRORE" and a year of political hogwash, the verdict is finally out. Ajmal Kasab, a native of Pakistan is found guilty of propagating terrorism and will be sentenced to death. (This is open to further debate and extension, thanks to the blessed Indian judiciary system)

What is viewed as a milestone judgement by many, is in fact, just an another example of the poor democratic and judiciary system that we have in India. The cash-strapped Democratic Front government in Maharashtra has so far spent a staggering Rs. 31 crore, or nearly Rs. 85 lakh per day, to keep the 21-year-old terrorist from the Pakistani town of Faridkot safe and secure enough to stand trial in spite of the fact that the state's debt has crossed the Rs. 1.85 lakh crore mark. Still the government is wary of letting out any information on Kasab and is saying Rs 31 crore figure is strictly unofficial.

Statistics say that 24% of Indians earn only $1/day/head or less and are considered extremely poor. In 2005, 42% of Indians were earning less than $1.25/day/head and were considered as Below Poverty Line. This means there are around 283,000,000 Indians who are extremely poor. Government should have spent for the welfare of these 283 million Indians rather than on an individual who is not even an Indian!

India is the only county, I believe, which treats terrorists as Nation's privileged guests of honor or VVIP's. I guess we have not yet learnt to differentiate guests and terrorists alike. For God's sake, "Athithi Devo Bhava" does not apply to terrorists, who instigate and spread terror claiming innocent lives. If the same incident, I theorize, would have happened in a country like Saudi Arabia, I deem, it would have been a different story altogether. Immediate justice without the slightest delay would have been meted, with a verdict so shocking enough to send shock waves to the rest of the terrorist clan.

But India is a democratic country and we give a fair chance of trial to everyone alike, be it a friend or a foe. We even go to the extent of providing top class security and entertainment to hard core terrorists who blew our nation to smithereens. What a shame and failure of national judiciary?

Moreover, Kasab is just a insignificant pawn in this age old terror game of hide and seek. The master minds are sitting far far away, nestled in comfy bunkers, hatching one devious plan after the other to destroy our county. What are we trying to prove and what example are we trying to set? Saudi Arabia is largely crime free. The US never saw another terror attack post 9/11. In India we are so soft that even after so many terror attacks we can't do anything. Such soft nations cannot survive in the modern world.

Tell me, is all this happening due to a poor judiciary system or Is this happening due to political immaturity. Is this happening due to our tolerance being shamefully high or Is this happening because 'who cares, not my job' attitude, Is this happening because there is something secretive that no public knows or is it happening because we simply don't care and don't want to know.

Who knows? God save our country from our own country men and politicians, let alone the terrorists.

In peace.

S.R