Why Blame Somini Sengupta?

Recently, Somini Sengupta’s piece in the New York times was pilloried for making stupid assumptions(correctly in my opinion) regarding the recent Mumbai blasts. See BongoPondit’s fisking here.

But why blame Ms. Sengupta? At least she can mount the defense that she writes for The New York Times, not exactly noted for its brilliant coverage of India. To put things into perspective, sample this astounding interview of the Chief Minister of Maharastra, Vilas Rao Deshmukh by Shekhar Gupta on Walk the Talk program.

The interview starts normally enough, though the cause of Mr. Gupta ’s constant emphasis on banning the dance bar issue is loSt on this blogger. Not that I don’t agree with Mr. Gupta, but I would think that we had more important issue to discuss. But that’s a minor issue. Take this

But why is your state a major victim? Is it because Gujarat is next door?

And

Do you think Maharashtra is paying a price for being Gujarat’s neighbour?

What the hell? How long are we going to believe this convenient nonsense that all terrorist attacks in India are the result of the Gujarat carnage? As if, we never had any terrorist attacks before Gujarat 2002? And paying the price? Should not we blame Kashmir first because apparently all terrorist attacks in India stem from there? Mr. Gupta does not of course offer what retribution must be effected on Gujarat, perhaps throwing it out of the Union? People like Mr. Gupta who outwardly advocate a hard line on terror, are true apologists of terror, conveniently forgetting that terrorists do not need an excuse to cause mayhem, they invent one.

But further gems await us

It may be coincidence, but have you noticed that in many of these attacks, a very large number of casualties are Gujaratis? Gujarati Hindus, if I may put it. Because the suburbs here are full of Gujaratis.

Now, where in the world will we find most Gujaratis? I would think in Gujarat, apart from New Jersey of course! Pray, if the aim is to hit Gujaratis for their crimes of commission and omission, why not carry out the terror attacks in Gujarat itself? I hope Mr. Gupta is not making a case for Narendra Modi here; that only he can prevent terror attacks. See, if the aim is to hit Gujaratis, and the crime is carried out in Mumbai (that too in local train and not in some Dandiya performance) , I would think the terrorists have failed to attack Gujarat itself, and hence are forced to adopt second hand tactics.

Now, what is Mr. Gupta’s defense?

In other news, Nitin criticizesB.J.P for asking Narendra Modi to lead its anti-terror rally. I completely disagree. When rallies and Bandhs have solved all of India’ problems, why can’t we beat terrorism by it? And by jove, why not the Narendra Modi, look, Mr. Gupta just made a case for him! Sigh!

In other other news, the Indian government has responded to the Mumbai terror attacks with characteristic panache by banning access to blogs! Apparently, our dear terrorists were communicating via blogs or whatever. It is apparently the result of a botched up attempt to ban a few ”hate” sites, but pray why ban dalistan.org, a completely harmless site? If it all a ban has to be imposed, we demand a ban on this site run by a ponytailed dude(as we have recently discovered) where enough fun (and cows too) have come. DesiPundit is following up the story here, no, not of the ponytail!

p.s I apologize for not replying to comments as my home internet connection has conked out, am I being banned by the US government? I have wisely invested the limited time in having my three disagreements for the day and writing this post of course.