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Shouting slogans, people gathered in Jantar Mantar in Delhi, near Cubbon park in Bangalore, War Memorial in Secunderabad and at the Maidan and College street in Kolkata, Lucknow and Chennai as Mumbai emerged from the pall of shock and grief that hung over the city since the 26/11 attacks that claimed 181 lives.
Posters and placards vividly captured the anger and concern as young and old, women and children thronged the iconic red sandstone Gateway to India opposite the Taj Mahal hotel which along with Trident-Oberoi bore the brunt of last Wednesday's terror attacks.
‘Enough of terrorism’, ‘Let us kill terrorism Halla Boll!’, ‘Politicians get out’ and ‘We want actions not words’ were some of the messages conveyed in banners and placards.
"We have never seen such a show of solidarity for a single cause at the Gateway of India," said Ad guru Prahlad Kakkar, as white candles were lit around a wreath of red roses laid on the cobbled plaza of the harbour front structure.
As dusk fell, the Taj Mahal was fully lit with roads packed with people right from Colaba police station till the Gateway and Regal.
In other metros too, anger was the all pervasive emotion.
In Kolkatta, a Pakistani flag was burnt by protestors who condemned Islamabad's ‘hand’ in the terror attack. 'Enough is enough,' said a placard in Bangalore.
"Terrorism has no religion. People should unite in the fight against terror," said Sandeep Mishra, an engineer at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
The protestors in Kolkatta observed a minute's silence in memory of the terror victims. People thronged the rally venues largely due to the viral SMS phenomenon started as a small peace initiative by two survivors.
Protestors lashed out at the system reflecting their perceived apathy against politicians and asked authorities to take action and guarantee people security instead of providing mere ‘lip service’.
Women and children lit candles and bowed their heads in prayer at several venues.
In Bangalore, some banners demanded war against Pakistan as rallyists showed a mix of compassion and rage while displaying their emotions. ‘Politicians, get out,’ read a banner in Hyderabad while another said ‘politicians should take responsibility.’
At the Gateway, a sea of humanity gathered and the national anthem was sung as tears streamed down the face of several people with anxiety and anguish writ large on their faces. Strains of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ also rent the air triggering patriotic fervour.
A group passed around armbands asking people to wear it and keep it till ‘we get results’.
Kakkar implored people to stop paying bribes ‘if we have to make a new start.’
Rallyists condemned leaders for laxity against terrorism as they kept spontaneous vigils and converted anger into call for ‘change.’ Text messages by the dozen called for Mumbaikars to ‘tell the leaders and politicians that we want our safety.’
At the Jantar Mantar, Zulfikar Ali, a software engineer, said the only way to address the ‘crucial and distressing’ issue of terrorism is by becoming a part of the solution.
"After all, as along as India is 'of the people, for the people, by the people', we will be fully responsible for the change that we want to see in her," Ali said.
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To all Politicians, Dont make false promises this time ..Every Indian is expecting ACTION this time...Its ENOUGH now....
Excuse me Mr.writer, but this is not puiblics opinion. This is medias opinion. MEdia thinks that it is god and wotever will be printed in media will become voice of public, but this is sheer lie, let me tell you.Indians have never waited for media to arouse them out of a situation. Media is just a puppet in hands of Congress. Indians act at the correct time and that correct time will come when you all will have to report what u people dont like.
Don't worry, my fellow Indians. Pakistan and other Muslim countries are going to implode from within. The conflict between Shia, Sunnis, Kadiyanis, etc. and the wars like that between Iran and Iraq will kill hundreds of thousands of people. The "brave" Pakistanis rape and kill their young girls and throw acid if they go to school. They kill their leaders be it Benazir, her brother, or Bhutto. Every week, terrorists throw bombs somewhere in Pak. Thank God for Israel too. That tiny country of 6 million beating the shit out of 170 million long beards". American bombs create havoc in Iraq and Pakistan too. And what have these brave people done? Nothing but cry like nincompoops. So let us relax and watch while the Muslims destroy themselves and secular India continues to prosper.--Danesh Patel
Hang Afzal first. Start punishing terrorist. Poeple of India should push this case first. Congress is not going to do this unless people put pressure on the Hijro ka sarkar. People must punish all corrupt leaders. Enough is enough.
THIS IS JUST AN OBSERVATIONSince India is the land of my ancestors ad it has been in the news here alot, I paid great attention.I was kind of disappointed by the Indian Government's lackluster response on International Television. I saw how articulate, coordinated and all in unison how the Pakistani response was to the accusations. Look at Haqqani, Sherry Rahman and the Pak PM on CNN.However, we are yet to see an articulate, sophisticated presentation of India's arguments on the International media.The Indian PM's statement after the attacks seem like he was a kindergartener reading from a placard. Even the new conferences are a confusing bunch of things.Come on India !!! Cant you even try to win the Public Relations battle at least !!!
Ron,I understand the frustration.But the REAL fact is US media is so biased on this respect.India pointed out the Pakistani link to Terrorism before US dumped more than $ 2 billion to Pakistan. Now, all of sudden US Govt. and US media see Pakistan as Terrorist ally and not US ally. India made a storng presentation but it never received coverage in US
Mumbai police and CBI should investigate from angles sincerely, honestly and fairly. Terrorism is a big problem in India and all small details and groups from any religion whether muslim, sikh, hindu or christians, should be investigated scientifically and justly in order to avoid repeate of terrorist attacks.The repeated attacks by terrorist is a living evidence that our agencies are doing shallow investigations and linient to groups who are considered as vote banks to a particular party.The recent reactions and opposition from BJP and Shivsena towards the investigation of terrorist from Majority community should not be tolerated as it gives pressure on agencies to slow down or close the investigation in those angles.Killing of ATS Chief Hement Karkare is becoming slowly a big issue due to inconsistent report on the way he was killed and cirumstances and the threat he received for his life during the investigation of a particular group of terrorist.
The foreign minister Pranab Mukarjee never cared for the public, he was the guy who told “elected members vote for the president not the public, and Abdul Kalam should leave the office immediately”; do you think he will care for the public safety?
I am from the West Indies. My ancestors were from India. Reading all these reports on the protests are interesting. But Indians need to understand that they have the power to elect these leaders. The politicians are a reflection of th Indian people. Afterall, we elect people we feel are most like us, right?These protests are all misplaced anger. Protest Beauracracy, which allows court cases to sit for 40 and 50 years. Protest all the red tapes that are in the Indian Govt. Protest Religious/Muslim Vote banks. Protest the great Indian polity living in illusions. They wont call a spade a spade. "terrorism has no religion" oh Please !!! Fight Islamic Terrorism by admitting that there is actually something like that. I do not mean that you attack muslims. India needs to realize that India's success, strenght and Unity not only depends on how they respect their own 5000 years old religion/culture/traditions but also how they uplift their poor and neglected. This also includes muslims.
India must do what needs to be done. More than 1050 years (Since Ghazani), India is facing this garbage. Did USA waited for world opinion after 9/11?? I wish India follows USA's action but not advice.
Its time to show Congress the door. But then who would take their place. Do we have a better option????
People are quick to blane congress , cpm , smk , what about BJP , did you all forget that the krgil debacle , attack on parliament all happened during Bjp's rule
Better Pakistan democratic government control terrorists on its soil, who are nonsense to the world - instead of blaming India. It wont long before there will be combined operation by India, USA, Israel and NATO and many other who will join forces to contain terrorists in Pak soil. Please wake up before it is too late.
People want action quick action by the UPA government to punish those who perpetrated the brutal attack on the city of Mumbai not speeches and inaction. How many times Pakistan has attacked India since its fraudulent and blood-spattered inauguration as a nation at the cost of millions of live, miseries to the deracinated millions? People of India demand the UPA government to give effective medicine to cure the chronic mental disease of Pakistan’s military. Pakistan’s elected government is still under the firm grip of its military and its terror machine - the ISI.
It is understandable that many people are advising for military response upon a country, who indirectly/directly helped the terrosists to launch their henious and cowardly act on our Mother India..BHARAT. Govt. certainly need to do a balancing act, keeping in mind the sentiments of people of India and the global obligations. That´s entirely different aspect to this socalled problem. The real solution lies in the hands of the people of India, which can give a befitting reply to our beloved neighbours. People should be unite irrespective of the political affiliation, caste, gender, social status just for the sake of BHARAT and the fact that we are Indian citizens, above all. People should avoid the relations to pakistan,whether it´s on people to people front or sports or business or political or entertainment fronts. We must boycot everything that comes from Pakistan and push them to isolation. We need to adopt to our Mahatma´s approach that is refuse to accept/give anything to PAKISTAN
Once again India has been terrorised severely by Pakistani and Muslims and once again India will do NOTHING in response. Some statements here and there by Politicians and refusal by Pakistan to hand over terrorists and all will be forgotten within a week or so. Then the whole terror will start again, India will be hit even harder and again Indian Politicians will do nothing. Cycle will go on and on and on ....
Take Politician to task! Those who selected poor bulletproof jackets for our police force and commandos should be asked to wear the same jackets and face the bullets in public!We should make sure that these very people are not re elected again!
Why are Political leaders not condeming killings in Orissa and Assam. No minister resigned when that happened. Its suprising to see the Mumbai attacks been giving importance. Aren't there terrorists in Orissa too that should be caught for raping and killing ???
I have one question..when allthese terror attacks are happening how come politicians come scott free all the time..Even if you observe latest attack in Mumbai if every one is saying it's pak terorist done this how cum they had not attacked Bal Thakrey???Biggest terrrists are politicians..Kill them first
Govt should understand the people anger on the terror and act accordingly in time.
There is no use coming out on streets screaming. First test is when you go out for voting please use your stuff between ears not be swayed by caste and creed, think about the national security, patriotism, candidate credentials etc., look at yourself you people let ruled by a house wife with no leader to name in the horizon to inspire billion people.
Let me state that I am a proud born Indian, and at somepoint need to state the truth no matter how disheartening it may be. There needs to be a fundamental change in how our goverment functions and dicates its missions. I strongly believe that the Indian Consitution is so weak that a new one needs to be crafted. Remember, the constitution was build on view of independence and at time when there was no real structure. So it was a good basis then....but since then, the foundation of the country is already build, and new reflections of the next step in the country needs to be outlines. You cannot govern today with a governing body crafted during independence, braking of the singular country (One India to India and Pakistan)etc....
What action?Action is there.UPA is spreading a bundle of lies to hoodwink the gullible people of this country.Terrorists came from sea(this to protect locals)Terrorists wanted to carry hostages like Kandhar(this to remind Kandhar)But they were prevented because Sonia ordered NSG(this to compare with surrender at Kandhar.Repeat Kandhar several times to show failure of NDA)All with an eye on elections.But Malegaon?What happened to PRAGYA,PUROHIT?May be they organized this attack on Mumbai
Dear sir, We hav witnessed a 24x7 coverage of 60 hrs of terror attacks on TV. This has directly helped perpetrators and attackers to implement effective plan to engage NSG and our security forces. If in case India decides to bomb terrorist camps in POK, with elaborate media coverage and speculation, these POK terror campers will shift their operations temporarily. In that case Indian forces will fight in vain and bomb only rocks in POK. As saying in India 'looking for leaves after burning hands' - we learnt a lesson of not letting terror companies speculate our moves. I request our 'brain-dead' politicians and IAS babus to implement COVERT operations. US before attacking Afghanistan in 2002 started covert operations in October of 2001. Do we have to learn another well mugged-out lesson! Jai Hind.
politicians are the one to be blamed for the lack of security...look, what happens in andhra pradesh...KCR, wants seperate telengana...then for the c.m post, dever goud, wants seperation....then nation devides...no security issues no ethical issues nothing...this nation, india, needs to have a p.m like Indira Gandhi...just shoot who talks type...it is going to fall apart...city are having huge migration leaving villages totally unatteneded...just put lot rural development needed in this nation....some one asked me whether i buy home in hyderabad...i said i do not spend a dime for this reason....traffic gridlocks, poor livin in cities, with mosquitoes...etc...citizens need to take care of politicians...just shoot who takes bribes...
People did not want to disobay law, but once again hindus made slave in their own hindustan.