Saturday, December 06, 2008

Terrorists terrorise Government terrorise People

The Mumbai siege doesn't make terrorism to me, or anybody around - we still dress the same, walk and talk the same, act and laugh the same. It was more of a feeling of helplessness that crept into the nation, and they tried overcoming it by being scholarly and 'proactive': talking about it as much as they can, throwing facts and making cute inferences, trying to mimic the investigation agencies, taking out candlelight marches, signing shit online petitions that only sound smart, putting it all on Pakistan, etc. Now that they've "made a difference", they can focus on having peanuts, which are hot in this season (remember - Jaipur peanuts are better than the Raipur ones).

And as far as that feeling brought about by terrorism - terror - goes, I was unfamiliar to it until I met with the ways of the government. Not the terrorists, but the state bullied me to feel intimidated and unsafe. On a day at CP in CP
#1: All entrances to Central Park have been blocked except for one. They frisk you, then review each item in your luggage. Large queues at the entrance, great potential for massacre. Way to go. As a side effect, there are lesser crowds, and couples have gone bolder, and scenes of kissing and fondling are the norm inside.
#2: The Z++++ security is pointless when people are jumping over the other gates - huge 3ft high structures that can only keep the cows out - without reservations. The Mujahids would find this very convenient.
#3: Food items banned inside. This kills the joy. But there were some food vendors inside, dressed in normal clothing. Fishy.
#4: Laptop usage is banned inside. This goes beyond all reason; I guess the Indian intelligence supposes that the terrorists would want to sit comfortably on the lush grass inside this park to coordinate a massive attack. Is our intelligence not aware of other technological offerings, mainly that called "mobile phone" and its evolution, the "PDA"? That aside, I was made aware of the fact an hour after I'd been leisurely using my laptop inside.

Somebody ought to challenge their policy, make an RTI.
Just because the terrorists used a laptop to run their command center doesn't mean laptops are evil. Just like you don't ban the jackets or shoes they were wearing.

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