There is something distasteful about the manner in which each terrorist attack that takes place in India has begun swiftly to be followed by a bout of political recrimination and bloodletting. So it was that the bombing of a crowded marketplace in Hyderabad on Thursday prompted Bharatiya Janata Party leaders to accuse the United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre — and Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, in particular — of indifference to national security, incompetence and worse. No doubt it is the duty of the Opposition to take the government to task for its lapses and failures but statesmanship and propriety demand that the tragedy not be politicised. There is a time and place for a debate to take place on the UPA’s handling of terrorism and law and order. But given that the terrorists who planted the bombs in Hyderabad probably set out to cause or sharpen social and political divisions in the first place, it makes no sense at all for politicians to play into their hands like this. It is axiomatic that every terrorist attack is, in one way or another, an intelligence failure but that doesn’t mean it is easy, or even possible, for a government to devise intelligence capabilities that can ensure an attack will never take place. Considerable headway has been made since the 26/11 terror strike in Mumbai at the institutional level and there is much better coordination and sharing of intelligence today than there has ever been in the past. But the “last mile connectivity” — policing on the ground — remains an area of critical weakness throughout the country.
The fact that the Delhi Police had learnt last October that the Dilsukhnagar locality had been surveyed by the Indian Mujahideen terrorist outfit — and that the Hyderabad police were aware of this — prompts the obvious question of why the potential target area was not subjected to more intensive policing and surveillance. It is possible that the intelligence agencies collectively thought the alert was too general in nature but even so, the city police ought to have stepped up patrolling, strengthened its network of informants and contacts, and increased the number of CCTV cameras. Hyderabad is, in many ways, a logical target for terrorist groups. An important economic hub, its population is heterogeneous and there is no shortage of irresponsible politicians and hotheads constantly stirring up a toxic cauldron of hate. Islamist and Hindutva terrorists have struck the city in the past in the hope of triggering wider clashes but the people of Hyderabad have time and again resisted these provocations. No doubt they will do so again. But it will take more than peaceful citizens to keep the city safe. Its policing must be of a standard commensurate with the threats it faces.
Keywords: Hyderabad blast, Dilsukhnagar blast, Islamist terror, Hindutva terror
Latest Hyderabad terrorist attack is an example how despite having the city put on alert through intelligence input beforehand (as stated by our home minister), our country has been allowed to be placed as a soft target to the terrorists. While it was expected that the country should rise to the occasion in taking immediate measures in coping the bloody aftermath irrespective of political color, what was witnessed in the parliament was the same old blame-game by the opposition to the ruling party. Instead it was expected from the government to convene an all party meeting to discuss action points on stricter policing and installing counter terrorism mechanism in a more effective way. It is indeed surprising that though we have multiple agencies working in this direction, seemingly they are not having perfect coordination among themselves. Further our intelligence needs to be sharpened in such a manner that there can be a mechanism to pinpoint the geo-spot of suspected terrorist attack.
There is a basic flaw in your editorial and that is twisting the duty of the Opposition into politicai recrimination, as has been pointed out in your first paragraph. The Opposition has been very supportive in the past, to the government but with no tangible results in the last decade, other than raising the compensation to the deceased/injured, there is no alternative for the Opposition. Also, whether the payments have actually been made, are never known.
The need of the hour for the leaders in power is to set an example by throwing-off their gun-touting SPGs and use them for effctive internal security and not make a mockery of tax-payers money. Most of these leaders do not need any such protection. It is in fact their own doings, that has brought them to such a dangerous security predicament.
This is what you should be publishing and not protecting a government which has done nothing to effectively deal with our enemies, even after so many blasts and deaths.
The dichotomy witnessed in Congress party has taken yet another
toll in Hyderabad. The mutual blame game between the centre and
the state is just to throw a smokescreen on the heaping
charges.How could it rest only with transmitting the impending
attack to AP? Its opportunism in capturing power in AP was
evidenced through its transcient alliance forged with Muslim
outfit of Owassi,only to be severed later.Was the low-key affair
with Owassi emboldened the IMs? How could the AP govt.trivialize
in ignoring the forewarning? Was it because the CM of AP,was
made a stenographer for the centre to take down notes, in lieu of
making him independent to act according to the crisis? The
nomination culture employed by Congress party has stripped of the
autonomy of the state ruled by its leaders. Both centre and the
state indulging in blame game will not show the way as human
lives are expendable.
Government is insensitive to everything you may say in media,
loudspeakers or by blasts! Minister mind their selfish motives and
interests. Who will care for your arguments? there will be hue and cry a
couple days about the happening and then everything is forgotten by all
whether it is rape or blast or anything! Boycott the politicians and
others whom you find insensitive!
Where is the effective policing to stop terror ? Instead of increasing
police force expenditure and number of policemen the VVIP are busy
buying foreign made expensive choppers.Even if police persons are less
the holistic society demands alertness from general market workers and
wagers who are reduced to objects with lesser wages.Even Rs.10,000/-per
month today is less in cities as footloose migrants to keep the market
supporters alert for a safe India.
Of course the observation is true,there are also some fundamentals which needed to be discussed:
3600 crore for VVIP Security;
400 crore for VIP(only Delhi) security;
what about me(a common man)?
all the politicians need to answer this including BJP and
Where are the rights activists who cried against the execution?
If the terrorist attack were in Wesr Bengal which is run by Mamta Banrjee and/ or the Central
government were in NDA's hands, the media would have joined the opposition in a
vehement attack on the government. The media would then not have characterised the
attack on the government as politically motivated.
Very correct observations. Leaving the usual empty political noises aside, what is required at ground level, is to take a leaf from the United States of Americal in providing security and preventing terrorist attacks. The Police competence at ground level has to be improved a lot. One hopes the IAS and IPS officers will stand up and prove their worth, instead of toeing their political masters.
While there is an unmistakable lapse on the part of state and central governments, where are Arundhati Roy and her schoolmates decrying the hanging of terrorists and Krishna Iyer calling for ban of death penalty?? Are the human rights of the 22 persons dead and other 120 people seriously injured for innocently going about shopping, not worth discussion or recrimination to these eminent people?? So if the culprits are finally caught and charged for this ghastly blast, the so called HR activists will come to the streets in support of them forgetting this serious incident in which many of victims lost their lives, limbs and livelihood. If the eminent come out and talk of their views, it will be appreciated by common people of India.
We agree with the editorial. Well presented and balanced editorial. Most unfortunately the policing in Andhra Pradesh is plagued by (1) IB is serving the political interests of ruling party, particularly to get elected their men for cooperative societies; and (2) police are engaged in controlling separate state moment groups. So, on ground policing bacame weak. CM & PCC chief says we have not received firm indications from the centre. It is a foolish statement. Every body knows it is Hyderabad, which is a major target for terrorists all along. BJP is trying to encash the tragedy for political mileage just like separate state groups using the so called suicides. These are more criminal acts than the terrorists acts. Government and opposition must fight terrorism with one voice. Government must stop using IM and police to serve their political goals.
This Is An Editorial With Very Nice Heading, I wish Our Political
Parties Should Understand Its Meaning.
This Blast Proves That The Security Was Not Up To The Mark And Is An
Example Of Intelligence Failure Which May Give More Strength To The
Attackers.In Our Country Politicians Get Very High Security But Atlast
Its The Common Man Who Suffers And Become Victim So I Hope Government
Will Take Strong Action As Soon As Possible To Make This Kind Of
Accidents Unrepeatable.
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