One more day, one more attack. India yet again stayed awake through a night of shock and horror. On an average terrorists strike at will almost every month and just in the tenure of the UPA over 3000 people would have lost their lives. Just as every attack follows a pattern, so does the reaction to the terror attacks. First the state government reacts asking people to keep calm. This is followed by statements from the MoS, from the Centre who generally speculate with the media on which terror outfit could have played a part. Shivraj Patil then visits the site of the tragedy and expresses his anguish, says sorry and promises to act firmly with the perpetrators. The National Security Adviser then lends his voice to the cacophony hinting at involvement of forces from across the border. At the tail end comes a message from the Prime Minister. Ah yes, there is also the visit by the Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani who rants about the pusillanimous response of the government triggering politically sponsored flashback of the attack on Parliament and the shameful chapter of Kandahar.

Predictability followed its course this Thursday too. The attack on Mumbai-given its scope and scale-obviously required special treatment. So, the Prime Minister addressed the nation. He assured the nation that "We will take the strongest possible measures to ensure that there is no repetition of such terrorist acts." By any account a very strong statement. You would assume thought that the shame and humiliation of being subjected to serial attacks has finally got to the UPA regime. But what he said two sentences later the message gets diluted. It makes you wonder about the distance between intent and actual resolve. He said, "We will take up strongly with our neighbours that the use of their territory for launching attacks on us will not be tolerated, and that there would be a cost if suitable measures are not taken by them." And what does "we will take up strongly with our neighbours" mean? Why this coyness? Why not name them? What about some material action? Is there any doubt that the camps in PoK are now the breeding grounds of serial blasts?  But isn't this what we have been telling these unnamed neighbours for nearly four years now?  Why are we shy of stating the truth that every time a civil administration takes root in Islamabad in the guise of democracy, India feels the power of terror. Ditto with Bangladesh. If they are training terrorists we must simply make them feel the pain. Indeed in the past five years the Prime Minister has spoken 90 times about the pain that India has suffered from regular terrorist attacks. Not just in India but even when he has spoken at the US Congress. Each time the message is "no tolerance". In fact just this year the PM has spoken about terrorism nearly 20 times. But every speech like the attacks follows a pattern. Lots of words, anger, anguish but no action. Neither against the sponsors of terrorism across the borders nor against perpetrators who take shelter behind real and imagined justifications.

Sure there are always aggrieved sections in any democracy. Governments must address the issues but nothing can justify killing of innocent people-not in India, not anywhere. As the PM himself told the Joint Session of the US Congress in 2005, "Those who resort to terror often clothe it in the garb of real or imaginary grievances. We must categorically affirm that no grievance can justify resort to terror." Yet this grand principle does not translate into action. The attacks on Mumbai-whether the serial train blasts or the attacks on 10 locations and taking of hostages-prove just one point: cowardice clothed in passive morality that has emboldened the attackers. It is not enough to claim superpower status, it is not enough to be a nuclear weapon state. Look back at the US. Whatever one might say about George W, Bush, it cannot be denied that he made "the terrorists hear and feel the power of America." Since 9/11 there has been no major attack on the US. So, real power comes from the ability to deter any assault on the idea of India.

If India has hobbled along despite these attacks it is because of the daring and commitment to duty exhibited by police offers like Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar. Because they didn't pause to reconsider their ideology. It is because people like them and the 25 other policemen who were killed in the 26/11 attacks simply did what was right. Only when political parties commit themselves to do what is right (and not bother about electoral might) will we see attackers fear us. Till then like I said earlier, India will continue to be seen as a "sucker state".