If it was not Sanjay Dutt, What if it was me or You!
At that time, he was a budding actor,a super-star's son but a spoiltbrat caught possessing Ak-47s and live grenades. Are we letting him free too easily? Do we suffer from no memory or are we mocking standards of sympathy? Is it because collective memory is like a sieve or have we become too indifferent to crime and hate that we can let entertainers of the day scout free- just because the culprit plays a good cop in a movie, Gandhi in another or good/dancer/comedian in others?
Recently, after the court had passed the verdict to imprison the person with mere 5 year minimum possible sentence for one of the most gruesome act in history of Mumbai, his backers like Gitanjali Jewels, Producers/Financiers, Film Fraternity has no sympathy for the victims or country but for the culprit actor. Or they don’t care till public gives them money? Do we Anna Hazares to fight unethical advertising?
Then they came for the trade unionists,
Then they came for the Jews,
Then they came for me,
It was 1993, just two decades back almost this time of the year 13 bombsexploded in Mumbai, erstwhile Bombay on Friday, 12 March 1993. It is still one of the most successful non war attacks on Indian soil whichkilled a minimum of 250 people and injuring lot many. The gruesome attack on Mumbai, its people and the country was executed by D-Company however; the conspirators included the likes of Sanjay Dutt.
At that time, he was a budding actor,a super-star's son but a spoiltbrat caught possessing Ak-47s and live grenades. Are we letting him free too easily? Do we suffer from no memory or are we mocking standards of sympathy? Is it because collective memory is like a sieve or have we become too indifferent to crime and hate that we can let entertainers of the day scout free- just because the culprit plays a good cop in a movie, Gandhi in another or good/dancer/comedian in others?
Just to remind the depth of the tragedy- Sanjay Dutt possessed 3 AK-56 rifles, 9 magazines, 450 cartridges 9mm pistol and around 20 hand grenades. Initially, court hearing he claimed it was for self protection and said in his own words that it was provided by Hanif Kadawala, Abu Salem and Samir Hingora, complies of Anees, Daewood Brother and Daewood, to whom he got introduced years through actor-producer Feroz Khan. Later Sanjay understanding the danger of keeping them got consignment destroyed except for 1 AK-56 and some ammunition. The weapons and ammunition was "distributed among various underworld elements" to quote indiatimes news publication.
Recently, after the court had passed the verdict to imprison the person with mere 5 year minimum possible sentence for one of the most gruesome act in history of Mumbai, his backers like Gitanjali Jewels, Producers/Financiers, Film Fraternity has no sympathy for the victims or country but for the culprit actor. Or they don’t care till public gives them money? Do we Anna Hazares to fight unethical advertising?
Dutt like others was booked under TADA, it is widely speculated/believed the whole TADA act was repealed due to his father, Sunil Dutt’s, the then congress politician and ex mega star, throughpolitical persuasive aggressive lobbing. An act was repealed to save an accomplice? Post it, Sanjay has backtracked from most of the statement; previously he was released earlier then implicated terms for TADA was done away with.
People should remember in reel life a Khalnayak can pass off Munna Bhai portraying Gandhigari, however, should a Real life khalnayak get sympathy from the same society which was bombed, from the consumer who can be swayed away with emotion? Is it justified by advertisers and producers to be so insensitive to general public? Should not General Public raise their voice against leniency shown?
He has neither rendered a public apology nor has come out clear with his involvement rather been retracting onhis statements and with each p assessing year, denying the extent of the involvement. Would this kind of the behaviour pass off so lightly in any other community, state or even jungle raj? Has he even had change of heart? He was shamelessly contesting for Lucknow Parliamentary seat from SP in last elections, why – was he proud of history of bombing or evading the jails?
What if it was you who did it or I, a Good Samaritan or even an unknown commoner, even if by mistake? Would be treated similarly as this son of cinema with past dotted with drugs, his abuse of alcohol and alleged skirt chasing, having being a accomplice of people on most wanted global list and corroborated in the sinister bomb blast which changed the city forever can have all the leniency from getting a state act repealed to least possible punishment?
Would it happen in London, Cuba, Beijing, Washington, Moscow, even Dubai, Cairo why then it can happen here in Mumbai? Are we setting a precedent– Yes? What could be next leniency to rapist, murderer, terrorist, and rioter? Bollywood rules our heart for entertainment and it pay for it with affection and tonnes of money – next thing do they too want to above all and people? Would we in next advertisement see Deowood, Madani or Godsey promoting products?
Are we waiting for old Russian poem to be true?
“First they came for the communists,
and I didn't Speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the socialists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Sources: (Much of coverage is missing online, i guess due to spine doctors)
http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/how-did-sanjay-dutt-become-involved-in-the-1993-mumbai-blasts-67595.html
Details of Killing:
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/database/mumbai_blast.htm
Sanjay Hearing:
http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/nov/23salem.htm'
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=20070323003912800.htm&date=fl2405/&prd=fline&
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanjay_Dutt#Illegal_possession_of_arms
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_Bombay_bombings#Sanjay_Dutt_and_co-conspirators
