Infrastructure Today | December 2008

Editor’s page | Wanted: Safety and Accountability
India’s vulnerability stands exposed. The enemy has struck again. The Pakistan sponsored death dance in Mumbai – 62 hours of a seemingly surreal terror soap opera brought alive on countless television screens across the world – has hit the country very hard. It doesn’t require a rocket scientist to tell us that the terrorist’s objective was to humiliate India Inc – a democratic nation about to become a global economic power with invitations to the G-20 – by striking at its most potent symbols of financial might. It is also instructive that the attacks came on structures with great heritage appeal like the Victoria Terminus, aka Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the Taj Mahal Hotel and the Oberoi, easily among the most famous waterfront hotels in the world: edifices of hospitality which have left an indelible imprimatur on global tourist consciousness. India with its ancient tradition of athithi devo bhava stands defiled at its Gateway, the popular waterfront morphing into a warfront.

The attack has reportedly burnt a Rs 50,000 crore hole in Mumbai’s pocket with city markets, the entertainment industry and shopping malls seeing a huge shrinking of business. But there is an urgent need to look beyond the economic. Earlier, we simply went about our business focused on economic growth targets, but now terrorists have successfully managed to add security to the list of urban concerns. Against that bleak background what is more worrying is the age old proclivity of the country’s political class to cynically disregard public concerns of absence of security.

This is evident from their political grandstanding and insensitive response – to be read as convenient amnesia – during emergencies.
It is a well known fact that India’s metros are ill equipped to deal with for disasters – both natural and manmade – and require decisive leadership which understands urban concerns. A city like Mumbai, which has a valid grouse of receiving very little despite its massive contribution to the national exchequer, can be saved from political indifference and a further plunge into chaos if it is accorded the status of a city state. The idea is to have at its helm a CEO guided by Common Weal, a leader who cuts across political lines, is equipped to handle a crisis, is non corrupt and responsive to the citizenry at all times. It is not enough to demand a purge of the system of governance. There is a serious need for citizens who elect their leaders to do some introspection with regard to their responsibilities towards their respective cities.

Accountability, both for leaders and the led, is the key – it is for us to collectively chart the map of India’s secure future. A beginning in that direction would have been made by the billion plus strong nation by unequivocally identifying the enemy – both within and without – to prevent possible catastrophes. India cannot afford to be held hostage to the saboteurs’ despicable agenda. For far too long it anaesthetised itself into believing that it could come to no harm and had conveniently put a lid on its inner conscience. It must seriously pay heed to the new stirrings for action.

It needs to win the war on terror on its own.