Cutting across party lines and narrow parochial sentiments, the people of
Mumbai seem to be in a mood to denounce their political leaders. They are fuming over the fact that posters have sprung up across the city paying respects to those who died during the terror attacks in Mumbai.
The sentiment emerging from the people this correspondent spoke with is: Stop exploiting martyrs to gain political mileage. It also seems like ordinary citizens are losing their faith in their leaders's ability to act in a responsible manner.
"Politicians will be politicians and soldiers will be soldiers," is how Rohini Marathe*, a resident of Malad, northwest Mumbai, expressed her anger over a number of posters put up by various political parties across Mumbai after the death of high profile police officers in the attacks.
She is a Congress supporter, but is completely dismayed by the way the Maharashtra government is handling terror and its fallout.
"What's the need for our politicians to add their names to the banners they have printed to pay their homage to those who dies in the attacks?" she asked. She was referring to the banner opposite the Regal Cinema, which is located near the Taj hotel, posted by the Congress MP from South Mumbai, Milind Deora.
"Wouldn't it have been more proper to just put the banner and not his name and position?" she fumed.
*name changed
Text and photographs: Prasanna Zore
Also see: He was a very brave officer'
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