Beyond placards and protests

After several years of terror battering almost all parts of the country, people are asking questions of politicians. However, the people have to be cautious of generating another singsong situation that paradoxically suits both terror masterminds and the erring politicians.

Post 26/11, the media has suddenly started talking of angry Indians, battered Indians and humiliated Indians. Newspapers use words like ‘India rising’ ‘roar of change’ ‘revolution’, ‘enough is enough’ ‘restoring our freedom’ and much more. Hundreds of blogs have come up and some TV panellists/viewers are using rhetoric like ‘teaching Pakistan a lesson’, ‘carpet bombing’ and ‘war till end’. A society, not withstanding the anger and indignation suffered, will soon have to accept the realm of politics; Indian leaders, known for whipping up patriotic fervour, nationalistic euphoria and quibbling debates, will get back to governance. Our social activists will respond by initiating sweeping discussions on structural, social and cultural causes in the making of a terrorist. Security agencies have upgraded the level of alertness. Politicians too have joined the ‘war on terror’. Now erstwhile Chief Minister Valero Deshmukh, in a quick-fix mode, has already announced reforms. Mayawati has announced manifold increase in the strength of police units. The government in power has, in a token gesture, reshuffled a few ministers. The reaction is complete but disjointed. And there lies the catch; to the terrorist, it is the reaction from the victims, the media, and the government that is in fact the intended outcome. It is not a coherent ideology or a cause that the contemporary terrorist is seeking to achieve, but rather the damage is measured in terms of the international attention and reaction evoked.

The growth of a terrorist network in any country is not an overnight development. The reality is that the threat of mega-terrorism has seemingly been entrenched in the country over several years. And our policy makers, by design or political compulsions, choose to ignore the indicators, the new dimensions and vulnerabilities.
The network of cells, domestic and cross borders cannot be contained militarily, by arousing patriotic fervour or by political ploys nor can it be done by converting the country into a police state. The terror network is best nurtured by a divided society ruled by politicians who lack credibility, probity, political judgement, accountability, commitment and the will to deliver. We need to seek structures through which we the people need to make the government accountable for its inactions. And in this context the war on terror has to begin with the basics.

Politicians treat the police, security and intelligence agencies as their jagirs. The specialised agencies are tasked for individual political agendas. At present 60% highly trained force are protecting politicians and their kins (This may increase to 80% due to terror threat). The TOI has reported that ‘the budget for the SPG meant for Gandhi family is Rs 180 crore and that of the NSG, tasked to protect a billion Indians from terror has been pruned to Rs 158 crore.’ Will our protests change this trend?

The government does not hesitate to waste tax money on non-development expenses, foreign jaunts, birthday celebrations, ugly hoardings, unworkable schemes, and building personal empires. But when it comes to providing funds to the armed forces, police and security agencies to sustain minimum operational preparedness they haggle, prune and dither. Are our leaders, their henchmen and their kin ready to forgo their unwritten perks?

With a colonial mindset, the government rewards leaders, bureaucrats and the police for their ‘loyalty’ and ‘sycophancy’ rather than competence and professionalism. Does it matter who the home minister is or what he does as long as he remains devoted to one family? Does it matter if a police officer is honest or corrupt as long as they can stoop to the politician’s diktats?

Governments have wavered for too long and are cautious against action against cross border infiltration and illegal immigrants. News report suggest that the demographic balance in Assam has already changed. TOI also reported, in August 08, that 12 lakh Bangladeshis, with valid travel documents, were missing. Isn’t this of any concern to the government in view of the fact that so many known terrorist groups are operating from that country? And how many of these have secured their names on the voter’s list?

The government has no business to tamper with the integrity of apolitical institutions. The armed forces, like the police, have been subject to bureaucratic whims. Let the chiefs have a say in decisions affecting the welfare of military personnel and military preparedness. Where do defence force commanders stand in official protocol and status?

The most disturbing phenomenon is that there are no leaders left in India. Those in politics are brokers of power or leaders by default or by rule of succession. Leadership based on core values and a coherent vision or ideology is long dead. What can bring about true political leadership?

While parties like the MNS instigate youth to beat up fellow Indians, destroy state property, subvert the rule of law and the goons keep the police busy on non-essential duties, the state’s response is ‘The law will take its own course’. With such a lackadaisical attitude towards the rights of ordinary citizens, how do we expect them to fight well-motivated terrorists?

While we repeatedly decree Pakistan’s involvement in abetting terror camps, the problem is far more serious. The developments in Bangladesh, Nepal, Srilanka, Myanmar and Chinese involvement in promoting certain insurgent groups cannot be ignored. Can the government look afresh at its foreign policy and anti-terror options without pandering to vote bank politics?

The most pertinent question is this: while we zealously create wish lists and media backed citizen charters, how do we realise these? And how do our demands transcend mere outbursts of anger and emotion and achieve political coherence? Can we bring reforms through the existing electoral system? Or the much hyped Gandhigiri? Or through candle light vigils and dharnas? Or by filing PILs in courts that have no control over the executive and legislature? Haven’t our politicians developed immunity to all these remedies? We have to seek other solutions.