This week was spent glued to news channels featuring stories of those affected by the terror attack in Mumbai on 26/11.
Barkha Dutt interviewed Home Minister Chidambaram who emphasised that violence of any form must not be tolerated. But when someone asked him why he was not taking action against the Naxals who had attacked policemen, he calmly explained that they were Indians too, and India being the land of Mahatma Gandhi, it was not right to attack Naxals. Barkha quickly pointed out that Gandhiji would have been at the spot speaking to both factions and demanding peace! Chidambaram, of course, did not offer his other cheek; he simply said: "I am not Mahatma Gandhi".
It is at such moments we realise how much we miss a Gandhi who can get warring factions to talk and avoid meaningless violence.
Uncertainty
1 month ago
