Fighting Terror

The responsibility for the recent serial blasts at Delhi was claimed by a terror outfit, which calls itself Indian Mujahedeen. This is ironical because most of our political parties or outfits prefer to highlight their narrow regional, ideological or religious identities. A faction of Shiv Sena has been roughing up the non-Maharashtrians in Mumbai and extracting apologies from those who dared to speak Hindi or put up sign boards in languages other than Marathi. Bajrang Dal has been vandalizing churches for allegedly converting people in states like Orissa and Karnataka with friendly BJP governments turning a blind eye. The TMC would rather shut down the door to West Bengal’s industrialization than lose an opportunity to snatch power from the Left parties. The latter retreat in to an inexplicable silence over China’s claims over parts of Indian territory but wax eloquent over US imperialism. The Congress allots land to Amarnath Shrine Board only to cancel it later in the wake of protests across the valley. Regional parties adopt a sphinx-like silence the moment their traditional vote-banks come under a cloud. While a terror outfit has no qualms about declaring its pan-Indian identity and targets, the political parties fight shy of doing so.

Outrageous though it may sound but we have a lot to be envious about the Indian Mujahedeen. The organization has a sharp focus and targets whomsoever it perceives to be against its faith across India. It is technically savvy and sends email warnings minutes before the bombs go off without leaving a trail for the cyber crime experts. It has the guts to even declare its next target and dares the police to do what it can. It has carefully built up its propaganda machine and feeds the media with its hate messages. What is interesting is that it innovates constantly-from the design and contents of the bombs to the mode of delivery. Had its aims not been so heinous, it would have been complimented on doing a very professional job.

There is a message for the quarrelling, squabbling politicians who seem incapable of looking beyond the next elections. If we have to survive the threat of terrorism, we must respond as a nation rather than take pot-shots at our political opponents. We have to be pro-active and anticipate the next move of the terrorists in order to defeat them. Tough laws may be desirable but do not necessarily help in a tardy legal system. When used to harass the innocents, they create a groundswell of sympathy. Security is a serious business and every citizen has to assume responsibility to do his bit. Since the enemy now lies within, the fight against terror can be won only if we govern efficiently, fairly and strictly.