Tony Martin: However odious a comparison like this may seem but the mumbai terror attacks throw a screaming irony in our face. The Orissa carnage that saw thousands murdered, many more 1000s homeless besides all types of other unimaginable atrocities, did not invite so much as a whimper of protest leave alone decisive and timely action to halt the mass massacre. May be when it comes to the terror victims it is the qualityof the lives lost that matters. Response: First a small correction. The death toll in the Orissa carnage was around 100 although the destruction to homes, churches, schools, orphanages, institutions, medical care centres, hospitals etc.was extensive. Raj Thackeray's violence against north Indians brought about immense political pressure on the PM and the Maharashtra govt by politicians from Bihar and UP to take action. The christians in Orissa suffered intense violence for over 45 days with no one to speak up for them. It was only because of international pressure that finally action was taken. In the terrorist attack in Bombay, over 50 persons were killed at VT. But they were totally ignored because they were not celebrities or came from the elite / rich classes. In fact one watching TV would conclude that the terorrist action only took place at the Taj, Nariman House and Trident and that it was the foreigners and Jews who were targetted. I understand from newspaper reports that about 23 foreigners only died in the operation against a total number of 176 officially declared.
Regards, Marshall
