NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Tens of thousands of motorists in the Capital halted their vehicles for two minutes on Tuesday morning in sympathy with victims of the US terror attacks, though many were not enthused by the unique gesture.
As the clock ticked 10.30, traffic policemen jumped to attention and stopped traffic at all major intersections in the city to enforce the National Solidarity Day called by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who himself led the Cabinet in observing silence for two minutes.
Children and employees in scores of schools and government offices also joined the unprecedented demonstration in the wake of the world's worst terror strikes in New York and Washington on September 11 that killed thousands.
While motorists said they were shocked by what happened in the US, some of them were not impressed with the idea of halting traffic, and that too during the morning rush hour.
New Delhi has some 3.2 million motor vehicles, the highest among all Indian cities.
At a busy traffic junction at Vasant Vihar in south Delhi, some motorists appeared clearly unaware of what was going on and honked wildly. Many wore an expression of disgust on being stopped. Some tried to snake through the maze of cars, scooters and buses that had come to a standstill.
At some places, policemen had a hard time stopping motorists insisting on whizzing off. Some were clearly not amused.
"The Indian government is going all out to please the US. Where is the US when hundreds of Indians die in terrorist attacks? Have they ever observed such silence?" asked Uttam Kaushal, a Delhi High Court lawyer.
Added Faizul Haque, a computer company executive: "All Indians feel the grief the Americans must be going through. After all, we have seen the worst kinds of terrorism in India. But forcefully stopping traffic is not done."
Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Maxwell Pereira, however, claimed that no motorist was inconvenienced.
"I was standing near a flyover and stopped motorists sharp at 10.30. No one complained. We did not use any force either."
Mamta Bhaskar, a teacher, also said the gesture was welcome.
"What is wrong if we observe two minutes' silence? For the sake of humanity we must join hands with the Americans in their hour of crisis. I think that is what Indians have been known for - compassion and peace."
But student Naunidhi Kaur had misgivings: "The government is observing this for the terrorist attacks in the US. What about Indians who have come under attack in the US since then?"
Yogesh Kumar, an accountant, was dismissive of the whole thing. "This is all drama. If we stop for two minutes at traffic intersections, will it any way help the Americans? So many die in India due to terrorist actions, have we ever paused for a second for them?"
P Upadhyay, who faithfully stopped his scooter at the busy Moti Bagh junction in south Delhi, thought differently: "It is a good thing. We must express solidarity against terrorist attacks because it is the ordinary people who suffer everywhere."
Possibly after judging the people's mood, a government spokesman clarified on Tuesday that the two-minute silence was not just about the September 11 horrific attacks in New York and Washington.
He said: "It was an expression of solidarity against terrorism."
Indo-Asian News Service
The Attack on America: The Complete Coverage
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
