Mumbai Meri Jaan

I have sat for 2 full days next to a TV set. Where various channels speak in various voices. While E24 and India TV are supremely irresponsible, some others try to maintain a voice of reason. When a beleaguered husband is asked about his missing wife and what he will tell his daughters, even NDTV steps out of line. Barkha is an extremely responsible journalist so I can forgive her this error.

Times NOW and Arnab Goswami have stood steadfast in the midst of this all. When his own journalist was about to divulge sensitive information he stopped her. When Narendra Modi spoke some channels including his blacked out his venomous poison.

Where are Raj Thackeray and Balasaheb! I keep getting sms's to that effect. Whatever happened to those who were baying for the blood of the partisan ATS? Maybe they are satisfied that some stray bullets have done what they perhaps wished for silently.

The lies that we are fed in the name of politics are laid bare but then we will again pick up our laptops and lives and our burden with it, log into living and log out of this horrible scenario. We have to earn a living out of work. Not from spouting platitudes and accusing political parties. Not from playing a blame game or protecting vote banks.

I think we have been let down by the state. We need a new Agency to fight terrorism something run as a civilian corporate initiative. For we saw on live TV how with impunity Politico's treat the police. Abu Azmi from the SP walked past a cordon line as he wanted to go into the lobby of the Taj. As if the hotel was open for dinner again. He had a journalist asking him inane questions along the way with him offering equally inane answers. Heres a sample: he had come to offer food to an MLA of his party and check on his well being!! How stupid and appalling is that. And when a policeman asked them to go behind the cordon line, his tone was to be heard...He would have shortly asked for the cops rank and name to admonish him later...till he realized he was on camera.

Such is the state we live in!! All forms of communication are given to rumor mongering. Mails on how this is a Mossad-VHP conspiracy and equally that it is a Pakistani attack and we should vote for the BJP have hit our inboxes. We have had sms's on signing petitions and marching on Wednesday to the gateway. I think the time for marching is over, it is the time for action. And we will turn as a nation to those who can deliver us that.

To our commandos and forces, we have faith in the allegiance you bear to the flag, to the Taj and Oberoi we are humbled by your ability to serve others before yourself even at the risk of death.

Declare an Emergency, let the people of this nation get a secure nation before casting a ballot. For we cannot let Bombay become Bali as Suheil Seth rightly said.

Mr Shivraj patil hope you have enough suits for the press conference!