Dont Blame Thy Neighbour, Make India Terror-Proof Instead, Says Arjun Rampal

While most actors were running scared of making comments while Mumbai was being held at gunpoint, Arjun Rampal went live on a TV channel and voiced his anger, hurt and disappointment.When he emerged out of the TV studio, he received many congratulatory messages for speaking his mind on national television. However, he also received some hate SMSes abusing him for not bashing Pakistan.

Blame game

And all because on the show, he questioned, 'why do we Indians always politicise everything and blame Pakistan?' Explains the actor, "What I meant was, why blame someone? Why do you expect better from the neighbouring country? It's been happening for so many years. What has the blame game achieved? Instead, why not ensure that we are terror-proof? Look how no attack has happened in the US after 9/11; why can't we ensure that our cities are safe?" the actor wonders.Like the rest of the city, he stayed glued to his TV for three days till the nightmare ended on Saturday morning.

The actor concludes with, "Mumbai collects the highest income-tax in the country, and yet we don't have NSG or its equivalent to protect us. They have to be called in from Delhi; this despite so many terror attacks on the city. Why can't the government give land in Mumbai, where we can train our own commandos and also arm them adequately? The terrorists come with AK 47s; our cops only have rifles to defend themselves and us."

Wednesday terror attack coincided with his birthday. He rues that he will never be able to associate November 26 with happy memories now. The actor is not all talk. He is planning a big movement with his friends and film industry folk to ensure that the citizens of the country are protected against terrorism. He is reluctant to talk about it, "I will talk about it when it's all in place," is all he's willing to say at the moment. More power to you, Arjun!

Anupam Kher Grieves Over the Loss of Friends in Taj Attack

I feel very angry about the way the intelligence agencies in our country collapsed. The common man’s frustrations at what’s happening are not something to be ignored any more — Anupam Kher

An upset and angry Anupam Kher left for Cape Town on Friday morning having lost friends very close to him in the terror attack at the Taj."The general manager Karambir Kang has lost his wife and two children. They were burnt to death. He's a close friend. How am I going to face him? I'm numbed by what has happened to Mumbai. So far we used to see such things only in movies. Kher played the role of an ATS chief in A Wednesday! and ironically; there was a savage terrorist attack on Mumbai on a Wednesday.

A challenge

Says Anupam, "A Wednesday! was about a man who takes up the challenge of protect- ing a city under siege. In the film, a common man gave it back to terrorists. In real life, the common is a hapless victim." Anupam sees the latest attack as a challenge beyond any other. "Earlier bomb blasts were contained because they were planted at places. Victims fled from where the explosions occurred. Now the terrorists are telling us we've nowhere to run."Anupam is no stranger to extremism. As a Kashmiri Pandit he has faced the wrath of militancy since his childhood. "Only the victims know what they are going through. It's easy for me to express how my heart reaches out to Mr Kang. Only he knows what he's going through. I feel very angry about the way the intelligence agencies in our country collapsed. The common man's frustrations at what's happening are not something to be ignored anymore."

We have no choice

Anupam refuses to react to the current carnage as an actor. "It's not about my commitment as an artiste. It's about my commitment as a Mumbaikar. Mumbai has given me everything. Suddenly it's entering the era of Iraq." He rubbishes the theory of Mumbai's mythic resilience. "All this nonsense about Mumbai bouncing back after each tragedy, please! What choice do the people have? It's like recovering from a war and waiting for the next attack. We cannot offer any solace to people who have lost their loved ones. No balm will work."Not enough is doneAs an Indian, Anupam is outraged by what's happened. "If after 9/11, America has made sure no such incident happens, why do we continue to have 9/11s constantly? It's a failure of intelligence. How did so many terrorists enter Mumbai with so much sophisticated weaponry? No! What the government is doing is not sufficient."