Drishtikone
If there ever was a country where being a criminal and a terrorist was a career option with least risk in the world, India would be it! 
You can be what you want as there are as many levels and areas of criminality you can engage in and no one can touch you. Law is only in name and can be played with if you have enough money and clout, which by the way is a derivative of your “standing” in the crime field. The more ruthless and brutal you are, the more valuable you are to a politician and so more money you have. Heck, if you are really a good criminal with some of the most feared crimes to your record, you could be a politician yourself!
We recently had the scenario where a model, Jessica Lal was shot by a politician’s son. Every witness and evidence worth its salt was tampered and tutored to make the case useless.
Now, we have the case of this terrorist Mohammad Afzal, who was working behind the scenes with the team that attacked the Indian Parliament. He himself wasnt there because he was the mastermind. Well, the buzz that goes around is that there is no evidence that links him to the actual crime. Right! We had expected that he will take out an ad in the newspaper to declare that he is the mastermind. If he was with those guys and knew of the plot, and did not stop or report it, there are only so many conclusions that you can draw from it. At worst he led them and at best he endorsed it. He is being offered a death penalty by the Supreme Court. The my-heart-beats-for-the-underdog social activists whose heart, by the way, only beats when the protoganist and the criminal happens to be a person from a certain religious hue and of a decidedly anti-national orientation, are up in arms. Now there is a sympathy to be demanded.
What about the many “supporters” of the terrorists in the closets who can lead to deaths of thousands tomorrow. They will be jumping in glee! They have allies in our NGOs.
It is easier to be a terrorist and a terrorist supporter and endorse thousands of deaths than to be a Rapist in India. A Rapist, that is, who is “caught!! Because a Rapist can be dealth a death penalty without the remorse from our activists as opposed to one who facilitates the death of thousands!!
Now, there is another criminal. Abu Salem. He masterminded the bombay blasts and killed hundreds and wreaked havoc in the country. Ran away and it took years to get him back. He is behind the bars now. Ideally he should have been shot the moment he landed in India. But if he could get the death penalty, that would be justice enough. That is a far cry now. He is running for the UP Assembly! Do you think he would have an outside chance to win? Think again!!
According to his lawyer, he has the support of the local Shiv Sena – yeah you heard it right!! Those Saffronists – and several modern day movie stars! What if he wins? Any chance that he will be brought to justice? Doubtful. Just hope that he doesn’t end up becoming a Cabinet Minister or, worse, the Prime Minister of India. For that is how ambitious a criminal career can get in India.
… and you thought your kid studying 14 hours a day for IIT would do you proud?? Mind if I laugh at you?
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