Bangalore Walks

Citizens,

November 26 marks a new low in our country's sinking security situation. We are now at a state where every major sphere of our life has been attacked - trains, temples, mosques, cars, markets, parliament, parks, offices - and now hotels. When does this stop? We pay crores and crores of taxes and levies, without even 1 paise bearing a semblance of accountability. We have blamed everybody from God to our politicians for the condition we are in; but the fact remains that we have failed because of our own unwillingness to act and to demand accountability.

We must take action atleast now - an action that is drastic, cumulative of years of not doing anything. Let us demand for accountability! Let us make our so called elected representatives account for every paisa of the money that we have paid up to ensure our safekeeping, good roads, continuous electricity, clean water, to mention the basics. Let us have them justify their Z-class and Y-class security, while we burn. Where is the accountability? Let us bring it back.

Here are a few numbers to quantify things:

Number of terrorist attacks in India since 1993: 33

Number of terrorist attacks in India since 2001: 30

Number of terrorist attacks in India in 2008: 10

Number of people killed since 1993: 1300+

Income Taxes collected from individuals for the Financial year ending 31st March, 2008: Rs. 10,37,40,00,00,000 (103740 crores)

Sales, property, petroleum and service taxes collected for the Financial year ending 31st March, 2008: Rs. 6,73,83,00,00,000 (67383 crores)

Income from Police, fines etc.: Rs. 14,67,00,00,000 (1467 crores)

Expenditure on Anti-terror squads, Police upkeep, Police development/improvement, equipment upgradation for past 5 years: 3700 crores

Here is a list of attacks in 2008:

May 13, 2008 - at least 63 were killed in 9 bomb blasts along 6 areas in Jaipur.	63 deaths
July 25, 2008 - at least 2 were killed and 20 injured in 8 low intensity bomb blasts in Bangalore.	2 deaths
July 26, 2008 - 56 were killed and over 110 injured in 17 serial bomb blasts in Ahmedabad.	29 deaths
September 13, 2008 - at least 15 were killed and over 110 injured in 5 bomb blasts in Delhi markets.	21 deaths.
September 27, 2008 - 1 killed and at least 17 injured in bombings at Mehrauli area 2 bomb blasts in Delhi flower market.	1 death.
September 29, 2008 - 10 killed and 80 in bombings in Maharashtra and Gujarat bomb blasts.	10 deaths.
October 1, 2008 - 0-4 killed and up to 100 injured in Agartala bombing.	4 deaths.
October 21, 2008 - 17 killed and at least 40 injured in Imphal bomb blast.	17 deaths.
October 30, 2008 - 45+ killed and at least 300 injured in Assam bomb blast.	77 deaths.
November 26, 2008 - At least 101 killed and 287 injured in a coordinated attack in Mumbai.[9]	125 deaths and increasing

The disparity between the requirements for our country's security and the actual disbursement has reared its ugly head in 2008. We are now faced with the reality that terrorism is deep rooted in India and we must act! Our Prime Minister, for his illustrious career and stellar academics, is as effective as we have been in handling terrorism; his address to the nation being ineffective, lacklustre, passive and non-commital, to say the least. Our Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, is known more for his propensity to dress up and for chronic foot-in-mouth comments and actions. It is with good reason that I do not attach the standard "Honourable" to these ministers. So when do we take action? The time has come.

The frequency of attacks is increasing exponentially, there have been 10 this year! And we have not seen even one step in terms of affirmative response, let alone affirmative-preemptive action and safeguards. Let us not wait for these attacks to get any worse. Let us demand answers. But first let us ensure that we do our part in turning things around. Let us first prevent ourselves from succumbing to cowardice. When times have taken a turn for the worst, we must step up with courage. Let us step out of our homes to demand our rights. When our parents, spouses, siblings and other loved ones fear for our safety and try to deter us from taking that step, we must assure them that we are doing so for our own continued safety, for if we do not take action now we have failed yet again due to our own weakness, for we are now only a step short of civil unrest and war. Let us head out and demand action!

We must not remain calm as is being called for by our politicians. We must show our anger, grief and resentment, and press for action.

People of Bangalore, on December 8th, 2008, let us peacefully set out from our homes, offices, schools, colleges, malls and shops and converge at Vidhana Soudha by 12noon, and demand the presence of Chief Minister Yeddyurappa and Home Minister V S Acharya, to put forth the following demands, threats and assertions:

1. If there is 1 more attack we boycott our schools, colleges, offices and professions till our safety is ensured.

2. If there is 1 more attack we do not pay any taxes and fines (income taxes, service taxes, even sales taxes on petroleum and groceries).

3. For every year that has a terror attack, we do not pay taxes and fines.

4. Every minister's security detail is removed until all the terror attacks of 2008 have been investigated and verdicts handed out.

5. Our security forces are trained to world standards in 3 years, by pioneers in the field, from Israel, France and the United States.

6. NSG Commandos to be decentralised from Manesar, and 1 unit each to be present at 5 locations across India - North, South, East, West, Central.

7. Every Minister with even a single charge of crime against his/her name to vacate office immediately and disbarment due to this condition be made binding for any candidate.

8. Every single entry point in to and exit point out of India (flights, road, trains, water vessels) to have severe and restrictive identity and security screening. Any discrepancy with any person to warrant immediate deportation to last port of exit.

On December 8th, let us begin the movement to make sure that we leave no stone unturned to bring back peace and security to our country. Let us set out to Vidhana Soudha and call other citizens to join the movement. Let us draw people from their homes and residences to join the movement. Let us have students and teachers walk together from the classrooms. Let us have employees and bosses walk together from the offices. Let us have citizens from every walk of life join the movement. If we have people who are not computer-enabled, let us read to them this message and spread the call. For unless it is a mass movement, it has no effect. If all people from the big bosses of IT and Financial majors to the daily-wage labourer, are not present we are under-represented and ineffective. When unions can take out strikes for reasons unknown or unclear, we can form together atleast to demand our safety. If the 10 attacks and 350+ deaths of 2008 are not enough to evince your action, whose death will it take?

Please spread the call, forward this message without fear of censure from superiors and peers, for this is the time to act.

Let our voices be heard on December 7th!

With all sincerity,

Fellow citizen

PS:Why only four metros get NSG units. Why not Bangalore? If politicians like Deve Gowda, Mayavati, Jayalalilitha can get a dozen of NSG/Black cats, why can't every state get a small unit of say 25 NSG commandos for handling hostage crisis, hijackings.

Candlelight vigil and peaceful march on Sunday, December 7th, 6pm at Cubbon Road BRV junction to M.G.Road Gandhi statue.