The fear factor

The following article was published in The Hindu way back in 2009. Pasting it here for reference:

Right from the black and white era, there has always been a satire in our movies in which one character will open up a newspaper and read only death related news and then sigh with exasperation. I used to always think it is an overdose and does not clearly reflect the situation in the country. How I wish I still can think the same way.

So many of us keep on protesting against such indecent and cheap methods to make one’s point, but all that protest is lost in the world of "vote bank" politics. The only people who have to listen to us refuse to do so, taking shelter in the fact they will lose elections and thereby power if they do the right thing. What is the use of power when you cannot ensure the safety of innocent civilians. What we need in people who are in power is action; not just an analysis of why the same event keeps repeating again. While dealing with the lives of people, how long can the State and Central governments blame each other and then do nothing about it. The fear factor that is gripping the country is undoubtedly detrimental in nature.

What is it that is stopping the police and the politicians from acting tough? To the common man, the solution to this problem looks woefully simple. But to the leaders, it is apparently very complicated. A sense of innovation is clearly missing in coming up with solutions. A sense of courage is clearly missing in dealing with unruly elements. And a sense of compassion is also missing in dealing with the victims. Are we really safe from the whims and fancies of leaders whose only sense of duty stems from the fact that they want power, only power and nothing else. Alas, the only thing I can do is write and protest.