The Hindu : Opinion / News Analysis : Similar situations, different reactions

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 11, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - News Analysis

Similar situations, different reactions

K.V. Prasad

"Rising above narrow political and partisan considerations, the nation has to be more vigilant to frustrate the evil designs of the enemy. Let us join hands to strengthen the fabric of social harmony and unity to a degree that no one can dare to breach. The need of the hour is for a change in the mindset for promoting solidarity."

These were the words in a resolution of Bharatiya Janata Party adopted by its office-bearers on September 26, 2002, after the terrorist strike at Akshardham Temple at Gandhinagar, in which over 30 persons including several women and children lost their lives.

Condemning the attack, the party, which headed the Central Government then, described it as part of a larger conspiracy to weaken the country, disrupt its social fabric, and bring its polity under strain by instigating social tensions.

"At this testing time the maturity of the Indian people is also on trial. We need to speak in one voice against this menace of terrorism. We must not allow any social tension to overtake us since by doing so we would be falling into the trap set for us by the terrorists," the resolution noted.

Nearly three years later, the same party decided to adopt a strident posture after security forces on July 5 foiled an attempt by a suicide squad at Ayodhya. The BJP demanded the resignations of Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav for the incident. Senior leader Rajnath Singh also said the authorities responsible for lapses including intelligence should be acted against. Besides, the BJP organised a bandh. All these came within a few hours of the terrorist bid.

"Often I find it perplexing when critics ask us, after every fresh incident of terrorism, why it happened. Some people in the media quickly, indeed routinely, rush to the conclusion that this is yet another instance of `intelligence failure'. I urge them to exercise restraint. Such uninformed, and sometimes motivated criticism, demoralises intelligence agencies and security forces. It also creates confusion in the minds of the common people. The critics do not know under what trying, sometimes impossible, conditions our agencies have to work to ferret out information and pursue the culprits." This was Union Home Minister L.K. Advani speaking at the inaugural session of the annual conference of Directors General of Police and Inspectors General of Police in New Delhi in October 2002.

This represents the approach and attitude of the BJP and its leaders when Atal Bihari Vajpayee headed the National Democratic Alliance Government at the Centre. Juxtapose these remarks with the rash of statements over the last week. The terrorist strike at Ayodhya was perceived to be an "attack on Hindu faith."

As the opening few lines suggest, the BJP leaders adopted a measured approach when in Government and expected similar behaviour from those in the opposition.

Congress stand

Take a look how Congress leaders viewed the December 13, 2001, attack on Parliament. While participating in a discussion on December 18 that year as Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Manmohan Singh said: "this is not an occasion to apportion blame or find fault with our system, whether it is of intelligence or of security arrangement. Yet, it is a fact that an attack on Parliament was quite anticipated. As early as 5th of this month, the Home Minister spoke at meeting... "

On the same day, taking part in a debate in the Lok Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi said the attack on Parliament "... uncovers many issues relating to the security of the nation and the security of our people. I sincerely hope that the Government will look into and share with the nation the reasons why the terrorists could make all preparations unhindered and actually enter into the precincts of Parliament and literally knock at the doors of Parliament House, despite, of course, prior intimation.

Among other things in his reply, Home Minister Advani said: " ... since the time suicide squads have developed and terrorist organisations have started preparing suicide squads, it's difficult to escape. It is so difficult that I have to say that what has been achieved by security personnel was unprecedented. I am not trying to cover up any lapse, if there has been any, on our part."

Interestingly, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on that day in 2001 avoided attacking the Centre. "I do not want to make it a political issue. It has, therefore, to be a considered view of the entire House that the security of the country and democracy is supreme."

Four years later, George Fernandes had to stand up in defence of Mr. Yadav. Mr. Fernandes said the views expressed by the BJP leaders were not of the NDA of which he is the convener.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Opinion

News Update

Stories in this Section

The road to the 2012 Olympics

Putting FM on the right frequency

A peep into the mind of Mohammed Ali Jinnah

Power grids and the new Silk Road in Asia

Similar situations, different reactions

Fortress Ayodhya & the Sangh Parivar

Violent children become violent adults

Origins of domestic dogs and cats

Resilience and guts

Disappointing

Challenge to democracy

Conscience & corruption