I know Condemning it is not enough

It is not just a terror attack. What happened in Mumbai on 26th Noveber 2008 is an attack on the country’s democracy, sovereignty, integrity and also an assault on every peace loving citizen of our country.

I condemn this cowardly and destructive act.

Before I write more on what we need to do, I would like to mention a few things. The terrorists entered India through the water front – the sea route. I don’t intend to start a blame game and pass the buck on to someone else. But technically the security aspect of the sea route comes under the naval system- Marine police, coast guard and Indian Navy.

Also the state government had some information or inputs on Mumbai being a target but there were no precise inputs. Mumbai as a city has always been targeted by terrorists for which the state Government was always concerned.

It is high time that our intelligence network, security agencies and police constabulary are made well equipped. High standards of security needs to maintained so as to be capable of facing global terrorism . Improved technology, upgraded systems, high quality ammunition should now be provided to our security men. Not just this but a lot of other actions will have to be taken.

Dear friends and citizens of Mumbai I feel hurt too. I share the same grief as you do. And I pray for strength within all of us.

We have lost around 200 lives but I salute our NSG commandos, Mumbai Police and our Marcos.

And hence we are organizing a condolence meeting tomorrow – Sunday November 30, 2008 – at 10 a.m. in Tilak Bhavan, Dadar. I ask you to join us. I understand this is no compensation but it could be one way for us to show gratitude to those bold and courageous men of our country who lost their lives to protect us.

With a heavy heart,
Sanjay Nirupam

Let us not blame the whole religion for an act of an individual

Arrest of Sadhvi Pragya in Malegaon bomb blast of 29th Sept. is a watershed moment of Indian socio-political life.

Hindu ideologues will have to redefine their ideas of patriotism where in the name of hardcore nationalism sheer hatred has been spread against other religious communities. Also after each terrorist attack BJP will have to think twice before dragging any specific community in it.

Terrorism does not have a religion and terrorist don’t belong to any community .It is a fact. But Sangh Pariwar never agreed to this. Rather they always engaged themselves in running a campaign that- ‘All the Muslims are not terrorists but why it is so that all the terrorists are found to be Muslims?’

Now the fact is Mumbai ATS has arrested 11 people in the context of Malegaon blast conspiracy. All of them are Hindu. What would be the argument of Sangh Pariwar now? Does it mean all the Hindus are terrorists?

As a matter of fact I strongly object to the terminology being usually used in public discourse as Hindu terrorist or Muslim terrorist. Let us not blame the whole religion for an act of an individual. Anybody who has faith in any religion can not think of killing someone. But at the same time I do accept the fact that hardliners do exist in our society in every phase of our history but all of them were never necessarily a terrorist.

Do you agree?

Regards,
Sanjay Nirupam

Thank you

Dear All,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who came and attended the Chhath Puja keeping all biases aside. I would also like to thank all those who assisted me in making the Puja a memorable event- The Supreme Court, Govt. of Maharasthra, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Mumbai police, the District Collector my Staff and all my well-wishers.

I also want to share this email I got from a girl.

Dear Mr. Nirupam,

I am Shweta Verma [name changed]. I happened to have my weekly off on the day of the Chhath Puja so I attended it with a couple of friends of mine. I clicked a few pics as well. I experienced many things being there. Would like to share them with you.

Firstly as I grabbed a ric I noticed a red tika on the forehead of the driver. Something in me immediately made him ask, “ Kaka tumhi marathi aahat?”[uncle are u a marathi]

Ric fella-yes

Me-So how come u said yes to go to juhu beach?

Ric fella- why I shouldn’t go?

Me- Don’t u know about the puja happening their

Ric fella- yes I do.

Me- Uncle I am a north Indian…how come u letting me travel in ur vehicle.

Ric Fella- what happens with that. I will get paid for my hard work. How does it matter what caste u r.

Me-don’t u know bout the recent happenings in Mumbai. Dont u feel irritated that we have come from north India and other ric fellows too.

Ric fella- if some one works hard why I should have a problem.

I will like to add that the entire conversation was done in my not so good Marathi.

Here’s his pic…

On the way to Juhu Beach I noticed many people traveling with sugarcane and other material for the Puja. Looked fascinating. So took pics of them too.

Once I reached there I was aghast to look at the crowd. I used to see it on TV during other festivals….but for a festival which is not of maharashthra origin and still have this much strength was amazing. I was later told by someone that this was 75 % of the strength of the past years.

I managed to browse through the crowd and get a glimpse of you offering your prayers to the Surya dev. It was a lovely sight. A man with power- political….influential person…did fear someone…did bow down in front of someone…. GOD. I also saw a huge crowd surrounding you trying to pray along side you and your security guards struggling to manage them…a little harshly. I got irritated….but was glad to see the same irritation on your face, and how u told ur security guards to not treat others this way. A sign of humanity I must say. I clicked a few pics of yours but I m sure you must be having them in abundance. So I am sending you few other pics.

Before leaving I managed to get to the back of the stage n clicked a few pics of the crowd.

In all I want to say….I m not a very religious person or very interested in politics either. But I appreciated the way you carried out the entire ceremony and managed the whole occasion with grace and dignity. A few more leaders like you I hope could emerge.

Keep up the good work.

Shweta Verma.

Thank you Shweta for attending the Puja and for your lovely mail and photos. I am humbled. I am posting some pictures from my side too.

Thanks and Regards

Sanjay Nirupam

All are welcome…

Strangely for some political reasons a Puja has been used as a bait to get the political thoughts out strongly. Right thoughts or wrong, I am no one to comment. But I can definitely put my foot down when the medium used is a scared thing. That would mean using religious sentiments of people to create divide between the masses.

A cosmopolitan city- and some political parties expect that all would live, celebrate pray in a particular manner only. All have their mannerisms or rituals that they would wish to follow.

However I am very much in line with the thought that there should be no display of political power in the name of religious prayers and ceremonies. And none of my previous year’s ceremonies were used to show that a massive number of people could be gathered on my calling. They all came there to offer their prayers to their deity.
You got it. This is in reference to Our Famous, traditional Chhath Puja.

Chhath Puja is one of the biggest religious celebrations of the north Indian migrants in the city. When I started celebrating it at a large scale for the first time in 1998 the city was ignorant about it. Now it’s a great honour for all the 50 lacs migrants that the puja has made its place in the calendar of city festivals.

I wish to welcome all of you to a religious ceremony on the 4th of November from 4 p.m. onwards on Juhu Beach, Juhu, Mumbai.

Lets celebrate keeping all bias aside with all devotion and commitment.

Thanks and Regards,
Sanjay Nirupam