MUMBAI TERROR ATTACKS: INDIAN PUBLIC'S ANGER AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 003018 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2017 TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM PREL PINR KDEM KISL IN SUBJECT: MUMBAI TERROR ATTACKS: INDIAN PUBLIC'S ANGER AND OUTRAGE Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) Summary: Indians across the country reacted with anger and outrage at the Mumbai terrorist attacks. They were jolted by the brazenness of the attacks and the level of sophistication involved. They are furious at the country's political leadership for its failure to protect them. They are also fearful, openly wondering when and where - not if - the next attack will occur. The political fallout for the Congress Party in the coming state assembly and national elections could be disastrous because the attacks very starkly reinforce the Bharatiya Janata Party charge that the Congress Party is soft on terror. Sensing this, the Congress Party has begun to talk tough on Pakistan and become more willing to take actions that strengthen the ability of the security forces to fight terrorism. Most analysts today see the Mumbai attacks as having a profound impact on the Indian public's thinking, one which will force the GOI into taking more muscular approach to combating terrorism. End Summary. Anger and Fear -------------- ¶2. (C) Indians across the country reacted with anger and outrage as the drama of the Mumbai terrorist attacks unfolded live on television over the last almost 48 hours. The Indian public (as well as the GOI and its security forces) was jolted by the brazenness of the Mumbai attacks, the number and types of targets attacked simultaneously, and the sophistication and coordination involved. ¶3. (C) The most scathing fury of the common Indian was reserved for the country's political leaders for their failure to prevent terrorist attacks which they see have become bolder, more sophisticated and more frequent. They squarely blame political leaders that terrorists appear to now feel they can get away with impunity after committing increasingly reprehensible terrorist acts. Praveen Swami of the The Hindu told POLOFF that "The mood of the country is very bad at this moment. People sense Delhi is in utter confusion." ¶4. (C) Along with wrath directed at the political leadership, common Indians also reacted with fear. Underlying the everyday chatter in homes and offices was the question: when and where will the terrorists strike next? That it would happen is now taken for granted by the Indian public, which feels that the political leadership is incapable of protecting them from religiously inspired Muslim terrorists intent on bleeding India to death by a thousand cuts. ¶5. (C) Dr. Ajai Sahni of the Institute of Conflict Management told Poloff: "The people's cushion of patience, however, is getting thinner on terrorism issues. This time the attack has exposed all the politicians on their fraudulent and false assurances on national security issues. People are fed up to hear the same trash from their political leadership. They do not want condolence messages, but action." Amit Baruah, Foreign Editor of the Hindustan Times told POLOFF that the Indians are angry and frustrated with the political leadership, security agencies and overall law and order machinery and are not least interested in whether Pakistan is involved or not. "Their sole concern is that a handful of terror-boys can play havoc anytime, anywhere in India," he added. Political Fallout -------------- ¶6. (C) While the anger of the Indian public is directed at all political leaders, the greatest political damage in the short term will be inflicted on the Congress Party as the NEW DELHI 00003018 002 OF 003 leader of the incumbent United Progressive Alliance government. Most analysts believe that Mumbai attacks will hurt the Congress Party's electoral prospects in the state assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh (November 27),Delhi (November 29),and Rajasthan (December 4). Many also believe that as a result of the Mumbai attacks, the Congress Party will suffer longer term - in the coming national elections - because the Mumbai incidents starkly reinforce the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) charge that the Congress Party is soft on terrorism because it wants to protect is Muslim vote bank. ¶7. (SBU) Mindful that the Indian public appears to be furious at political leadership across party lines, the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders extended support to the UPA government and took care to present a united face at "this grave moment for the nation." L.K. Advani, Jaswant Singh and Narendra Modi visited the sites on November 27-28 but made decidedly non-partisan comments. Speaking to reporters at the site, Advani said: "We must unite as Indians to stamp out terror." ¶8. (C) But the BJP knows the Mumbai attacks hurt its principal opponent and help make terrorism an important electoral issue. It will not be long before the BJP begins to hammer the Congress Party on terrorism. Shekhar Iyer of the Hindustan Times told Poloff: "There is intense disgust with the politicians of the country. The Congress Party would be the immediate target of this dislike in the assembly elections." He agreed that the BJP will eventually go "hammer and tongs" after the Congress Party on the terrorism issue. Indeed, the BJP ran a front-page advertisement in the November 28 Delhi edition of The Hindu which shows on a blood splotched background the words: "Brutal Terror Strikes at Will. Weak Government. Unwilling and Incapable. Fight Terror, Vote BJP." Ironically, the advertisement ran next to a story titled "Political India Responds Unitedly." PM's Muscular Talk -------------- ¶9. (C) The Congress Party was defensive. Mindful of the damage the terrorist attacks can inflict on the Congress Party's political fortunes in the state assembly and parliamentary elections, the Prime Minister spoke tough. In an address to nation he the attacks have "external" links and warned that India would not tolerate use of neighboring countries' territories for launching attacks "on us." If the GOI becomes convinced of involvement of Pakistan-based groups in the attacks, the PM and the Congress Party will come under pressure to increase the pressure on Pakistan (septel). ¶10. (C) Vinay Sharma, a Congress legislator in the Delhi state assembly, agreed with analysts that it could have been an intelligence lapse but argued that it was impossible for any government to stop such attacks. He conceded that Congress Party may take a hit in these assembly elections, but opined that such attacks could not have been prevented no matter which political party was in power. He said that the Congress party would have to work hard to dispel the notion amongst a section of the people that the party was weak on terrorism. In his view, the attack was obviously sponsored from Pakistan, an opinion that Congress Party officials are likely to propound in the coming days because it tends to shift blame to external, uncontrollable factors. Demands for Action -------------- ¶11. (C) The Mumbai attacks were quickly followed by demands from politicians, analysts, journalists and opinion shapers for new, strong measures by the GOI to fight terror. Proposals to toughen the anti-terrorism laws resurfaced. Ashok K. Singh, writing in the Pioneer called for enacting a "Patriot Act" in India. Talk resumed about creating one NEW DELHI 00003018 003 OF 003 federal agency to combat terrorism to replace or add to the multi-layered and chaotic current structure in which multiple state and federal agencies have overlapping equities and responsibilities. The Prime Minister, in his address to the nation promised tightening of the laws to "ensure that there are no loopholes available to the terrorists. Security Forces Admired -------------- ¶12. (C) The Indian public reacted with pride and admiration for the security forces laying siege to the target sites. This approbation was fed by dozens of television journalists on the ground swooning over uniformed commandos from half a dozen GOI military and paramilitary agencies. There were glowing tributes paid to the fallen security forces, particularly to three members of Maharashtra's Anti Terror Squad, who have been in the news recently for breaking terrorist plots. Ashish Sood, a youth leader in the BJP told Poloff he was happy the country stood by the security forces in their efforts to "finish the terrorists." Comment: Why Are the Mumbai Attacks Different -------------- ¶13. (C) It is possible that the Indian public's anger and concern over terrorism will dilute and dissipate again as they have after every terrorist incident in the past. There are, however, several reasons to think that the Indian reaction to the Mumbai attacks is different. The level of public interest nationwide is much higher, in part because it was live on television. The intensity of the anger at the government and the political class this time is profound. The brazenness and sophistication of the attacks has shocked the public. The high profile and iconic targets have helped strengthen the shock and anger. The mix of the homegrown terrorists with jihadis who have an international agenda is seen as more toxic by Indians. WHITE