26/11/2009 - Mockery Of 26/11/2008?

This is the message which I am getting from the various agencies reporting the distress of victims and interviews of those who have lost their loved ones in the carnage which went on for nearly three days. Everyone especially the virtual media is going on and on trying to make a presentation which is so powerful that it immediately pulls your heart strings, but this coverage it seems was kept for the one year anniversary. All the people have been suffering for last one year, their condition is being highlighted only today.

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Even in the two houses of parliament senior leaders are creating ugly scenes over this most solemn occasion. Leader of the Opposition L K Advani expressing concern in the Lok Sabha over the relief to the victims and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee hitting back accusing the BJP of exploiting the 26/11 incident for political gains.

"You are making politics out of this. Earlier also you did it and were paid back. ... You will be again paid back in your own coin," an angry Leader of the House, Mukherjee, remarked in the Lok Sabha.

Advani had said out of 403 persons eligible for relief, only 118 have received cheques so far and while 64 of them were eligible for railway jobs, only 32 had received offers till now. In the Rajya Sabha too, BJP attacked the government for showing "negligence" in fulfilling the promises made to the family members of those killed and injured in the 26/11 attacks.

The actual facts about the compensation promised and the compensation given came out during the question hour when the opposition trying to earn brownie points let the cat out of the bag and stated the actual figures. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, Prakash Javadekar said a cheque given to one of the beneficiaries bounced while a number of others got nothing.

The railway minister had promised a job to the dependents of all those killed at the CST but many have not got employment, he said. Similarly the petroleum minister had promised allocation of petrol pump to the dependents of the security personnel, but later it was made clear that they would be receiving only a monthly commission of Rs 25,000.

"Negligence is unwarranted and an action taken report should be placed on the table of the House," Javadekar demanded. Bal Apte (BJP) said urgent attention should be paid to the treatment to 12 persons, who are still carrying bullets in their bodies.

Now they are talking about taking measures so that such incidents do not reoccur.The Leader of the Opposition Mr. Advani suggested that a special cell be created in the Home Ministry, with an officer on special duty as its head, to look into the "problems of coordination" between 12 different agencies, including eight of the state government, involved in handling relief.

Isn't it ironic that to gain political milage our worthy politicians waited for this day to air their grievances about work not done for the victims. Well at least in a twisted manner the common public at least came to know the reality. That the gap between promise and fulfillment is indeed a huge one.