(Feature)
In a worrisome scenario the UPA government is contemplating to set up a federal agency to deal with terrorism rather than taking an immediate and concrete action to decapitate the Jehadi network spread across the country. Rightly, it is not the time to conceptualise the plans but to take action. The fact remains that government's soft stance on terrorism and its failure to put it down has emboldened the terrorists to strike at will. There couldn't be any other example better than the US and its policies on terrorists. Incidently, no terror related incident has taken place in United States since 9/11. In its onslaught against extremists and their mentors the US has recently launched a crack down on Lashker-e-Tayaba bosses suspected to behind a number of terrorist attacks in India and has also frozen their financial transactions. But sadly there was no action in India.

Likewise the British Prime Minister Mr. Gordon Brown has also warned that he would stick to his principles over plans to detain terrorism suspects for longer period prior to being charged despite the prospect of a humiliating defeat in parliament. Mr. Brown added,"a plan to allow the detention of suspects for upto 42 days without charge was the right thing to do and to protect the security of all and the liberties of each." They mean business while as our leaders believe in buying time to let things take their own shape. Our leaders dither to take pro-active measures if there is even a slight resistance from the opposition side.

Ironically, after the terrorists attack on Parliament, India has spent more than two hundred crore rupees on the security gadgets to make it foolproof and its Members safe and secure. Similarly, in the aftermath of attacks on religious places, railway stations, running trains and busy bazars we are only strengthening our security bandobast but not tracking down the propitiators of gruesome crimes. The recent decision of Indian railways to make the engine compartments of trains in north eastern region bullet proof is another cruel joke. To instill confidence in drivers operating on Maoist infested routes the leaders have thought of bullet proofing solutions. Tightening security after terror attack has little purpose unless the government orders crackdown on terrorists.

It is a paradox that our nation despite spending huge money on defence and internal security, is falling prey to intermittent terrorist attacks. Against US, UK and other terrorist affected countries, India is still vulnerable to terrorist machinations. In fact, there is a small let up in terror related violence despite losing more than two hundred thousand civilians to the Jehadis.

Curiously, the Jaipur serial blasts which killed more than 65 persons has made our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (who is on the last leg of his five year rule) to rethink on a serious policy that could be a befitting reply to terrorist designs. Yes, it is the same Prime Minister who lost sleep when the families of suspected British terrorists were being interrogated in Bangalore a year back. Late but never too late, Prime Minister has now pitched for a federal crime agency that would take care of terror related threats and action. "Time has come to recognise, 'such an entity as federal crime' and that in a specialised federal agency was needed to investigate all crimes with ' multi-state aspects' such as terrorism and white collar crime," the Prime Minister added.

Could there be no other way to check terrorism then setting up of a federal agency? Why not. It is possible, provided the government has enough grit to do that. The fact remains that terrorism in India is thriving due to the soft-pedalling by the government and the support the terrorists receive from certain section of the people. So far, we have seen that the UPA as well as NDA governments have totally failed to combat terror in the absence of any cohesive policy combined with the pusillanimity and lack of national will of our leaders. It is ironical, that during the three decade old militancy not a single terrorist has been hanged in the country. Non-execution of Parliament attack convict Mohd. Afzal Guru is one of the instances of the loopholes in the implementation of judicial sentencing in India. Apart from Afzal there are thousands of others involved in heinous acts of terrorist violence without being punished.

There is no doubt that HUJI is becoming a potential terrorist force and is pushing illegal Bangladeshi migrants into subversive activities but not a single activist has been deported so far. Reason: the illegal migrants form vote bank of one of the national level political parties. Even the Centre has admitted that its clout has extended and that the US has also declared it as an international terrorist organisation. Inspite of these facts the party doesn't only encourage them to enter into the country but also helps them in getting the ration and voter cards to prove Indian nationality.

Under the prevailing circumstances can the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh or his brainchild "federal agency" serve any purpose? Of course. No. Indeed, what India needs today is a leadership with strong commitment towards the nation and its citizens and not those having the ultimate aim of continuing in power by bowing before the anti-national elements for the sake of votes. Instead of federal agency the country needs stringent anti-terrorist laws to nail the terrorists. Given the past track record the UPA government will never consent to such laws as it has struck down POTA soon after coming to power. Virtually, by not implementing a strong anti-terrorist law, the government has given a license to terrorists to kill more and more.

Undeniably, while serial blasts have become common in our country not a single case of human tragedy has been cracked so far. The fact remains that present laws are insufficient to deal with terrorism and any eventuality arising out of it. As long as the ruling dispensation practices politics of minority-ism no anti- Jehadi laws can be enacted. Till that time no agency, howsoever efficient can prove affective in curtailing terrorism and terror related incidents in the country.

Well, it is high time for the government to adopt methods practised by US and other countries to protect citizens from terrorist attacks. It is also necessary to enact TADA and POTA like acts to combat terrorism. There is no denying the fact that India is soft on terror. Our leaders need to desist from playing politics over the dead and instead get down to serious business. Moreover the government needs a wilful policy to fight terrorists and naxals on the same lines. Apart from tough laws country needs a visionary leadership that cares more about people than remaining in power.

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