Kasab has become our National Hero

Mohammad Ajmal Mohammad Amir Kasab a unknown terrorist from Faridkot in Pakistan can surely claim to be the most popular man in India today. So much is his popularity that his name has featured at least once in all the major newspapers, television news broadcast and major news portals since he was captured alive in Mumbai during the 26/11 terrorist attack.

In the last 7 weeks we have been enlightened on India's biggest guest. By now most Indians know where Kasab was born and what his parents did. What made him run away from home and how did he come contact with the LeT. We also know Kasab's love for mutton and chicken dishes and his sole wish to meet Amitabh Bachchan.

Kasab's popularity today stands as a threat to that of the Tendulkars, the Khans, the Bachchans and the Kapoors. Only Ramalinga Raju seems to give him some competition. He has forced people like the Big B to write a blog on him. The situation is such that Kasab could have surely emerged as the winner if he was allowed to participate in reality shows such as the Bigg Boss.

After the Mumbai attacks India had initially made smart moves to bring in international attention to the attack. But our diplomats lost the plot when they emphasised more on Kasab's Pakistani citizenship rather than the Mumbai terror attack. The debate over 'state' and 'non-state' actors has stretched far too long for the international community to be any more interested in the topic.

The fact of the matter is we have not been able to get anything concrete out of Pakistan and have rather made Kasab a national hero. Our talk of surgical air strike which we would never have initiated backfired on us and gave the Pakistanis a chance to use nuclear blackmail on us. From being a terrorist state Pakistan became a victim of terror and India's threat in the eyes of the international community.

We should initiate actions (not necessary military) rather than make celebrity out of a terrorist. Israel took on its enemies and declared a cease fire on its own terms. We do not need to copy Israel but should learn that internal security of our country should not be international community's tea time gossip. Let us act rather than talk and if that's not possible then shut up completely.