Politicians have not learnt lessons: Citizens

A year after the 26/11 terror attacks citizens feel politicians have not learnt their lessons. What has upset citizens’ groups the most that the politicians who received flak for their ‘insensitive’ deeds and remarks after the attacks are back in action.

A year after the 26/11 terror attacks citizens feel politicians have not learnt their lessons. What has upset citizens’ groups the most that the politicians who received flak for their ‘insensitive’ deeds and remarks after the attacks are back in action.

Many termed it political mockery that Home Minister R R Patil, who stepped down after the attacks last year, has returned to take charge of the same portfolio. Then Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh who also resigned was rehabilitated at the Centre as industries minister after the Lok Sabha polls in May.

“The politician is the same old familiar face and nothing has changed in this year,” said Gerson Da Cunha of Action for Good Governance and Networking in India. “I am not too sure what will happen if we were to face a situation similar to 26/11.”

People say they wanted to see police reforms, security and good governance.

“The government has not learnt its lessons and you still see them [politicians] fighting over caste and language in the assembly and issues like terrorism are ignored,” said film producer and activist Ashoke Pandit.

“Post 26/11 there has been no initiative by any politician, police reforms haven’t been done,” said Neera Punj, convenor of CitiSpace.

Politicians defend themselves. “We had two polls after the 26/11 attacks. The same public that was angry came out, voted and elected the ones they trusted,” said Health Minister Suresh Shetty.

Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule, said, “We are also sensitive to such issues and concerned towards the citizens.”

Congress MP from south Mumbai, Milind Deora said the attacks had lessons for everybody. “Everyone should have learnt to perform their duties: politicians to be more responsible, bureaucrats to be more accountable, media to be more responsible and hopefully people to be more participative and less apathetic,” he said.