One of 2008’s best Hindi movies was arguably A Wednesday. The story of a common man’s response to living in fear on a daily basis captured the imagination of a country fed up of government’s lame duck responses to the acts of terrorism unleashed upon the common people.

One of the key protagonists in the movie, the character of Mumbai Police Commissioner Prakash Rathod (played by Anupam Kher), was widely appreciated. The reason being that in Comm. Rathod, the people saw their ideal police chief – one who was firm, intelligent and brook no interference from the political class. It was, to some extent, like the “Harrison Ford for President” feeling that rippled through the US after his portrayal of President James Marshall in the 1997 movie Air Force One.

So when I heard a story about NSG Director-General J.K. Dutta from the 3 days of terror after 26/11, I thought we need not look for fictional heroes. Real life heroes like the reel-life Comm. Prakash Rathod do exist. [Read more →]

Delivering a retort to Pakistan President Zardari’s expression of helplessness about the “non-state actors” in Pakistan indulging in terrorism, Indian foreign minister Pranab Mukherji sarcastically said,

“Question is not of the non-state actors. Are they coming from heaven or they are coming from a different planet? They are located in the territory of a particular country. We are suggesting to Pakistan please act. Mere expression of intention is not adequate,”

Aah Mr. Mukherji… these “non-state actor” buggers don’t come from the heavens, man! They are “non-state actors” hoping to go there!

After Pakistan president Zardari has gone to town with the phrase “non-state actors”, now even Condoleeza Rice has started using that phrase. How newly coined phrases travel in diplomatic circles! But I strongly feel that “non-state actors” is phraseology aimed at deflecting the specter of sanctions that would inevitably follow if state of Pakistan is proven as a supporter of terrorism and thereby branded as a terrorist state.

After days of deliberation, the Congress High Command (read Sonia Gandhi) gave her consent to name Ashok Chavan as the new Chief Minister and Chhagan Bhujbal as the Deputy CM of Maharashtra. In the interim the state, hit by one of the worst terrorist strikes in the world, was leaderless. Now that some Congress factions are satisfied while others are furious, the Congress high command can concentrate on their no. 2 priority… India’s internal security.

The last time Indians asked for a decisive action by the government on the issue of terrorism, it was arguably in the aftermath of the 7/11 Mumbai blasts. Then, after snapping ties with Pakistan, India resumed them within 20 days without any action taken by Pakistan. Before that, after the Parliament attack, the government launched Operation Parakram only to “contain the national mood of ‘teach Pakistan a lesson’“. Can we hope that this time will be any different?