Cynthiachandran’s Blog


World leaders in India
December 14, 2008, 12:33 pm
Filed under: Cynthia Chandran | Tags: , , , ,

 

Some of the most prominent and powerful world leaders made a beeline to India recently to offer their support to eliminate terrorism on the aftermath of Mumbai attacks. 

The visiting leaders included US Presidential Republican candidate, John McCain, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, US Joint Chief of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte.

The latest to visit India today was the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown who made an unscheduled visit and offered condolences for the Mumbai attacks to Prime Minister, Dr.Manmohan Singh. 

Mr.Brown had a whirlwind tour to Pakistan also after his breakfast meeting with the Indian counterpart. The British Prime Minister had come to India after visiting Afghanistan.

Almost all the leaders who visited India had also traveled to Pakistan to put pressure on the government there to take stringent action against the LET (Lashkar-e- Taiba) terrorists involved in the Mumbai attacks.

India’s External Affairs Minister, Pranab Kumar Mukherjee had asked his visiting Pakistani counterpart to take action against the terrorists involved.  There was an imminent danger of war looming between the two countries. 

 

The visits of the world leaders thawed the mood to an extent.

Eyewash

Pakistan’s move on arresting, banning terrorist organisations and also putting the leader of one of the terrorist organisation under house arrest is looked upon with skepticism by Indian government. 

The External Affairs Ministry believes that the Pakistan’s move is just to create a distraction among the world countries.

India has since decided to overhaul its security measures.  The Home Minister, P.Chidambaram had announced in the Parliament to set up a federal investigation agency, training more commandos, strengthening coastal security and also to boost the existing depleted intelligence agencies in the country.

The BBC had reported on the government’s dilemma on how to start doing it.  They pointed out that India is facing fundamental deficiencies and serious lack of resources.

New Delhi based security analyst while speaking to BBC has said, “There is seriousness in the intent of announcing these measures.  But the plans don’t emphasise the main priority areas.”

As pointed out by BBC, Indian government’s annual budget on security and intelligence measures is only $3 billion.  This amounts to a population of over 1 billion people. 

However, US’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has an annual budget of $7.1 billion for securing the lives of 300 million people.

So the difference is staggering.  The Indian government needs to come up with more clarity.  I understand that the Home ministry is working on it and may require more time or else they do not want unwarranted publicity.

 The new course of action

At present, India has several agencies like Intelligence Bureau (IB), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).  However, nobody is aware where the new federal agency will be placed. 

To know more about its position, we all have to wait for the further course of action.

Everybody in India is aware that the coastal regions are poorly guarded and this is where the terrorists took undue advantage of the loopholes in entering the country.

 

India severely lacks manpower in intelligence agencies and the government may find it very tough to recruit the efficient ones.

Already, all the security agencies are facing a dearth of manpower to fill the existing vacancies.

India’s plans are very ambitious and if it is executed on time and in a proper manner, it should be commended.  But it can be said so only after it is implemented.

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Bollywood films on 26/11 attacks
December 14, 2008, 10:39 am
Filed under: Cynthia Chandran | Tags: , , , , , ,

The whole world was glued to their telly for almost 60 hours of watching the Mumbai attacks last month which killed at least 170 people.  The news channels in India and abroad had marathon running of the attacks. 

The viewers were literally punching on their remote control of the television sets to watch the best liveliest action. India’s film makers are well known for re-adapting true incidents in to films.  According to BBC, 20 film titles are waiting for approval for possible movies based on the Mumbai attacks.  This is not the first time that movies based on terror are being made.

 

Bollywood film industry was reeling under poor records at the box office for the films that were made earlier.  The 26/11 attacks has come as a fresh lease of life to at least some of the film makers.

 

BBC reports that the possible film titles are ‘Taj Terror, ‘Operation Cyclone’ and 26/11- Mumbai under Terror’ et al.  However, some might feel that it is inhuman to recreate the tragedy, which have affected hundreds of people alike.

 

“It always happens.  People jump on every tragedy.  It is like ambulance chasing,” says Anand Patwardhan, well known documentary film maker to BBC.  Mr.Patwardhan is famous for his controversial documentary film, ‘Ram Ke Naam’ (In The Name of God). 

 

 

The documentary brought out the gruesome reality behind the Ram Janma Bhoomi-Babri Masjid issue, which unfolded during BJP (Bharathiya Janatha Party) leader, L K Advani’s ‘rathyatra’.

 

When the Kargil war (1999) had taken place between India and Pakistan, there were hundreds of casualties.  Then people realised the hardships of soldiers guarding the borders against enemies from across the border.  The Kargil conflict was also made in to films in different languages in India.

 

 J.P.Dutta, a Bollywood film maker came out with ‘Border’ in 1997, a well enacted film on the Indo- Pak war of 1971.  It is feared that the misery of the people affected by war or the terrorist attacks are exploited, which is true.

Grave Mistake

 

The former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmukh had run in to controversy during the Mumbai attacks.  He was accompanied by Ram Gopal Varma, a Bollywood film maker and his own actor son, Riteish Deshmukh, to Taj Mahal Palace and Oberoi Hotels. 

 

The citizens of Mumbai and the political brass could not digest this and finally, he had to tender his resignation.

 

It is not known whether Ram Gopal Varma is having any plans to make any film on the Mumbai attacks.  His films are synonymous for slick thrillers like ‘Satya’ and ‘Company on the underworld. 

 

Ten terrorists had struck on 26th November at Mumbai’s Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Hotel, Leopold Café and other important places, which went on for almost 60 hours of battle. Several foreigners were also killed in the attacks.

 

So, will the cash box in the Indian theatres be piling?  Will these films bring good news for the Bollywood film industry?  Let’s wait for the drama to unfold…..

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