Date:03/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120354700803.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

On our leadership

It has become fashionable for our leaders to say we will not allow terrorism to defeat us. Terrorists strike as and when they like — kill our people, destroy our property — and again we declare that we will not be cowed down by terrorists. What does it mean?

Yugal Joshi,

Mumbai

* * *

Now that the Mumbai disaster is over, politicians blame intelligence for not supplying adequate information while the intelligence agencies censure the police for not heeding their warnings.

The police accuse the politicians and the chain continues. The country, too, has found someone to point a finger at — Pakistan which, in turn, is pointing a finger at India’s policies.

Shruti Shrimal,

Jaipur

* * *

It is true that people were angry with politicians after the Mumbai attacks. But why did the leaders not face the anger and attempt to take the people into confidence? Why was the national leadership not in Mumbai? Why did the Prime Minister and the Opposition leaders not brief the media every few hours and reassure the people? Why did we witness such a large-scale abdication of political responsibility? Heads are rolling now. But even this is because the leadership has no other way of dealing with people’s anger.

Kalpana Kannabiran,

Secunderabad

* * *

The political class has once again failed to protect the nation. One reason for this is politicians and their families are well protected with the taxpayers’ money, and do not understand the trauma of terror victims and their families. As suffering citizens, we should get actively involved in the fight against terror. We should demand immediate and decisive action from those responsible for protecting us.

N.S. Shenoy,

Coimbatore

* * *

I would hold all of us Indians responsible for acts of terrorism. We all believe that something must be done and some even go as far as saying that not much is being done, blaming the authorities for everything. However, it is time we realised our responsibility and, as citizens, committed ourselves to eliminating terror.

Ankur Mahindroo,

Patiala

* * *

Why don’t we stop expecting the government to do everything? How many hotels, institutions and other public places follow the security rules laid down by the government? How many metal detectors are actually used and not kept only because they are mandatory? It is time we realised that the buck stops with each one of us.

Sunita Reddy,

Hyderabad