There are no words that can condemn strongly enough the vicious terror attack on
Mumbai, its residents and guests from all over the world. The ruthless attack is an attack on the soul of India and Mumbai, a country and people who have always been hospitable to people from all over the world.
We not only condemn this attack. We deeply mourn the loss of our finest policemen, chiefs and constable, who bear the brunt of vicious political vendetta when they carry out their duty.
India needs to stand united in the face of such an attack. Politicians of all hues and political parties with different affiliations must be compelled to implement structural and qualitative police reforms that have been repeatedly recommended by the National Police Commission Reports since 1981 until 1989.
Terrorism and violence of all kinds needs to be meticulously dealt with by the concerned authorities. Our investigative and intelligence wings must be freed of political pressures and compulsions. There must be a depolarised and decommunalised discourse on terror. We need the immediate implementation of reforms in Indian Intelligence and the Indian Police Force.
—Javed Akhtar, Rahul Bose, Shabana Azmi, Javed Anand, Teesta Setalvad, Alyque Padamsee, IM Kadri, Cyrus Guzder, Arvind Krishnaswamy, via email
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