The Flip Side (Series 1)

India’s 9/11 of barbarism on 26th November, 2008 has been an unfortunate event. It has once again exposed the vulnerability as well as preparedness level of India’s internal security system. The 60 hours of live telecast of cruelty had no doubt raised the TRP of almost all the news channels but the viewers who were glued to their TV screens had seen many flaws unfolding as any average TV Soap telecasted these days………..!

Firstly, our Police and NSGs fought bravely with their outdated, sub-standard weapons and the bullet proof jackets against the terrorists who had with them hi-tech and advanced weaponry and communication systems, like: Carbine, 9mm M9 pistol, MP 4 and MP5 assault rifle, Uzi, Asimov Kalashnikov 47 (AK47) and AK54, LWRC, AR-15 assault rifle hand and plastic grenade and obviously Kevler bullet proof vest with inbuilt GPS and satellite phone connectivity.

Secondly, it took nine odd hours for our NSG commandoes to reach Mumbai from the outskirts of Gurgaon city. The reason being, they had to fly in an IL-72, which is basically the IAF’s transport aircraft. The ordeal didn’t finish there as the Maharashtra government could only arrange buses to bring them to the site of violence, from the Mumbai airport.

On being asked, the congress spokesperson Mr. Singhvi flatly said that it would have hardly caused a delay of 2 hours for the NSG commandoes to reach the site. Now, if we go by the statement and evidences, the terrorists didn’t kill any hostages once the NSG commandoes started their operation. On the other hand, the NSG, in the midst of their operation, shouldn’t have said in front of the cameras that the terrorists were better informed about the lay out of the hotel and were therefore at an advantage over them.

Thirdly, the irresponsible statements made by our political leaders in the pre and post operation period have been disgraceful and disappointing. Few disgusting of those were:

• ‘bade-bade sheheron mein aise chote-chote batein hote rehtein hain’,
  i.e., such incidents do happen in big cities- (the former Deputy CM of Maharashtra).


• ‘had it not been Maj. Unnikrishnan’s residence, even a dog would not have visited there.’- the CM of Kerala.

The former CM of Maharashtra, Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh, had probably patented his idea of making a film on the issue, prior to his visit to inspect the horrific scenes at the Taj Mahal hotel. He was accompanied by Ram Gopal Verma (film director) and his actor son- Hritesh Deshmukh in the hotel, after all the terrorists were eliminated in the operation. This was totally against the seriousness and sensitivity of the event.

Fourthly, the media seemed not very mature to cover the news in a professional manner. Whereas, the cameras were glued at the Taj Mahal hotel, the deaths and damages at the Chttrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and few other places were not covered at par. Sorry to write, but they were probably trying to sensitise and sympathies the deaths of elite groups over those common people who were killed at the CST Railway station.

On the same note, whereas, the martyrs from the officers’ category were widely acknowledged, we hardly heard or saw much about the personnel’s of other ranks who too had laid down their lives for the same noble cause.

Some of the reporters were simply dramatizing the event at the peak of their voice rather than reporting on them to gain cheap popularity for their respective channels………these journalists should infact go for an internship with the BBC.

A tribute to the Martyrs.... click here.