Poll takes a backseat, fear grips national capital

“Please now stop all the regional and religion differences. I am not concerned about which party wins. But will they be able to give us security? These politicians make such a lot of hue and cry if their ‘Z’ security cordon is withdrawn. Where is the security to the common man?” asks Ramesh Lal, a retired government official.

Till Wednesday, the talk on the street centered around the upcoming elections. The moods debating and comparing various candidates today changed to sombre with almost everybody talking about the Mumbai attack.

“We are very sure that despite attacks like this the situation is not going to change with all the political parties blaming each other for the security lapses. We need a man with iron face to improve situations,” says Rajesh Kumar, a private bank employee while traveling in the city’s metro train.

His colleague was too upset and angry that the terrorists made security agencies look like non-existing.

“Look the daredevil act. Were our security agencies sleeping?”

Some senior citizens who have been witness to several serial blasts in the country say this will be remembered as the most disastrous of all. “I did not sleep last night. I am traveling in metro and now think that person next to me could be carrying a bomb. I have told my other family members to be at home and do not visit market places,” says 60 year old Ramji.

A senior Delhi police official says, “Our men have been briefed about the situation. We have strengthened security by deployed forces in maximum numbers. Checking are also being conducted at all public places.”