Click to play videoJaipur: Thakur Das has been running a traditonal Rajasthani saree shop for the last three decades on the busy market of Johri Bazaar in Jaipur. On May 13 this year, he witnessed the terror attack that killed more then 60 people and injured over 300.
"It was the first time the police in the city and also the politicians witnessed such an attack. No one was prepared for it," says he.
The traces of that attack are still visible on the walls of the market. With elections just a few days away, the residents of the 280 year old walled city have been avidly following the events unfolding in Mumbai.
The busy square of Chhoti Chaupad was one of the spots that was the site of one of the bomb blasts that rocked Jaipur six months ago. Now the events in Mumbai have brought back the memories of that terror attack. But the big question is whether the shock and anger on the street actually translate into something substantial in the coming elections?
While the two main political parties are raising the pitch on terror issue in the busy bylanes of Jaipur, candidates admit that terror has infact united the people - not an ideal scenario for party politics.
BJP candidate from Hawa Mahal in Japiur, Manju Sharma says, "Both Hindus and Muslims are united on this issue of terror."
One reason that the unity has been great in Jaipur is perhaps economic. With more then 2.5 crore domestic tourists and 14 lakh foriengers visiting its famous forts and bazaars every year, the people of Rajasthan want to see a greater unity of purpose in fighting terror.
A Jaipur-based handicrafts trader, Yusuf says, "Both Congress and BJP will have to come on the same platform to fight against terror. It's important for India because India depends on tourism."
Terror might be aimed at dividing people, but it seems that unlike issues like caste and religion, it has actually brought the citizens together across party politics like never before.
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