Terror Strikes!

News channels report of terror attacks in Mumbai yesterday. Police say attacks are carried out by Muslim terrorists. I say big deal! In a country like India, you're gonna get lots of shit from lots of disenfranchised people - from the low caste dalits, the farmers who were sold out by their government, to the Christians, Sikhs and last but not least, Muslims.

The Indian government could not be more mired in bureaucratic haywire when it comes to internal security. With a police infamous for being corrupt, let alone incompetent, the problem has existed for decades. It's hard to overcome these corruption, which basically occurs more frequently at the state governments - governed by corrupt Chief Ministers the federal government (i.e. the Prime Minister) basically rely on for political expediency. These Chief Ministers gain valuable voters' sympathy by flaming communal sentiments, to the point of inciting violence, just so to get the necessary votes to stay in power. The police are powerless to disobey them, since they could be reassigned (I rather prefer the term disciplined) by the central government eager to please their regional allies. Some police officers would even join in the communal fray at the behest of their political masters. Even if it occasioned for the prosecution of these corrupt officials, the judiciary in turn would be influenced to dismiss, or at the very least, dispense minimum sentences against these corrupt and vile politicians.

Some may wonder about the justice system. Well let me say that it does not exist at all! It's just a mirage to lure foreign investors, since some judges were known to illicit money or sex just to tilt the outcome in your favor.

Each time India achieves something remarkable, like recent the launch of the probe intended to study the moon, I wonder how many farmers had to commit suicide this year just because they could not afford to meet their loan obligations due to failed crops. Which reminds me that the failure of Tata to acquire land from farmers to produce was a victory not only for the farmers, but also for environmentalists who see the cheap car project as a burden to an already polluted air in India's major cities. Having said that, as an astute observer of Indian politics, I wouldn't be surprised if Tata bought these land with the tacit approval of the government - since any approval of these agricultural land for corporations would ensure the Chief Ministers would obtain valuable contracts for their sons and daughters. All these at the expense of the poor.

For a country which pride itself as the next superpower, it still treats its female population as worst than animals, with female infanticide the norm among even middle class families. Violence against women even occurs in some wealthy families, with in-laws the usual perpetrators.

Let's face it. If India's to achieve something meaningful, the political, judicial system should be overhauled to ensure accountability and independence. The tribalism practiced throughout the country should be abolished, in essence, an overhaul of certain traditions which is incompatible to India's stated ambition as the next superpower. Besides these caste based politics only impedes the political and judicial reform craved by the middle class. Once this is done the country could then embark on an economic reform which should be more inclusive to the 300 million of its population living below the poverty line. Until then, I think it would be wise if India could scale back these expensive, non-viable technological mambo-jumbo that benefits just a select few.

An economically and politically stable India would then be able dispense with the terror cells operating within its own border.