Pune blasts : Lessons to be learnt

Once again a blast strikes an Indian city. Once again the blame game begins. Once again media frenzy comes to fore. Once again we do nothing. Please rise to the occasion. Get out of this mess. It is very disappointing to see the same pattern one after the other. If the speculations presented in newspaper reports are true, it becomes very difficult to have faith in our internal security.

There are several reports claiming that Headley had surveyed the German bakery. If true this implies that the administration of the bakery had advance knowledge of the gravity of the situation and also the government should have been more active. The trigger for the blast is highly disappointing. A waiter opened an unclaimed object. This is ridiculous. After so much awareness campaigns we Indians can't even follow simple rules for security. As far as I remember these campaigns have been since Khalistan militancy days. But how many of us are serious about it?
This is the time that we learn our lesson although a very tragic way to learn it. I would suggest that we plan an awareness campaign with the friends of that waiter exhorting people to follow security norms. Please do not miss this opportunity.

In the defence of Thackerays

The title is perhaps highly unlikely to be found elsewhere as Thackeray bashing seems to be the in-thing these days. Although it is justified to some extent but our media has this tendency to overdo things whether it is the case of Chinese incursions or of Indian team losing a match. What I am talking about here is castigation of Bal Thackeray for criticising Shahrukh Khan for his remarks on Pakistani players' participation in the IPL. I do not approve of hooliganism associated with Shiv Sainiks but there is no doubt that Shahrukh Khan's statement on IPL was a highly irresponsible statement. Yes, I agree that in a democracy everyone has right to express his/her opinion but then is it not true that a hypocrite should deserve flak for what he/she is ? Mr. Chidambaram also expressed his opinion on the matter saying that Pakistan has very good Twenty20 players and they should have been brought out. But then he has no control over who is picked in the tournament. He is not a franchisee but Shahrukh Khan is. What Mr. Khan offers is a pretty lame excuse. He says they wanted Razzaq in the team but didn't pick him because he was injured. How does he know that same problem was not with other owners? That's a true charlatan for you. Oh! can a charlatan be true?