UPA government's lenient approach towards national security

The three years of the UPA government at the centre has been an era of failures on political, administration and economic fronts. But, the worst is the matter concerning the internal security of the country, which adversely affects the security at the borders.

The Congress Party has always been engaged in the appeasement of the minority community for the sake of vote bank policy. The process has accelerated during the UPA regime. It gives the impression that it is the only political party that stands with the minority community, and the interests of the minority community can only be safeguarded by it and no other political party will come to their help.

During the last three years, we have seen gradual increase in the number of incidents of terrorism throughout the country. The assault on Ramjanmabhoomi site in Ayodhya, blasts in Sankat Mochan Mandir in Varanasi, killings of innocent citizens in Doda (Jammu and Kashmir), grenade attacks on protest rallies of political parties, attack on RSS headquarters in Nagpur, killings of Amarnath pilgrims and other incidents all over the country point out that the terrorists are free to take up any target due to a weak policy of the UPA government.

Instead of curtailing terrorism, the UPA government is promoting terrorism by taking it casually. It has been talking about withdrawal of security forces from terror-ridden Jammu and Kashmir where not a single day passes without an incident. It points to the fact that the UPA government and its allies are not taking the matter seriously. Instead of raising the morale of the security forces, which are combating terrorists under adverse circumstances, they are talking of withdrawing forces from Jammu and Kashmir. How can you justify this withdrawal when over 40,000 innocent people have lost their lives as a consequence of terrorism?

While the USA enacted new security laws after 9/11, the UPA government repealed POTA. If we look at the graph of terrorism, we find that it is on the rise. The reason is apparent. POTA was especially enacted to deal with terrorism, which the UPA government has withdrawn under the policy of appeasement. If we look globally, the countries affected by terrorism have enacted special laws to deal with it. Nobody opposed them in the name of human rights. Are they not democratic countries? If we enact stern laws to deal with terrorism, we do it for the national security. Where is the question of human rights? Can national interests and security be compromised on minor thing? In dealing with terrorism, we should act as nationalists. We should support the enactment of stern laws to check terrorism.

Look at the arms and ammunition being used by the terrorists these days. Can we fight them with the old arms and ammunition, which we give to our armed forces and paramilitary forces? We should take care of this and provide the latest arms and ammunition to the forces so that they could effectively challenge the terrorists.

The Supreme Court of India has upheld the conviction of Parliament attack case prime accused Afzal Guru and sentenced him to death. The demand of Congress leader Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir for clemency, the way a mercy petition was laid with the President of India and the way it has been dealt by the Home Ministry reflect that the UPA government has a soft corner for terrorism. While the principles of natural justice were never denied to Afzal Guru and the matter was finally decided by the Supreme Court, there is no reason for delaying the execution of judgment in the name of mercy petition. The delay in examination of the Home Ministry on the mercy petition of Afzal Guru reflects upon the view of the UPA government. Both the principles of natural justice and the national interest demand that we should expedite the matter. Lingering on the matter will give a clear message to the terrorists that the Indian government will never take an action against the people involved in terrorist activities. This will result in the increase of much terror activities, and thus, the national security will be disturbed adversely.

There is an alarming side of terrorism. It is going too deep in the roots of our political and economic life. The recent assertion by the National Security Advisor Shri M.K.Narayanan during the 43rd conference on security policy in Munich that official agencies in Pakistan are pumping millions of dollars for terrorism in India along with placement of funds by using underground and parallel banking system reflects a complete failure of intelligence network.

The terrorists are also targeting our economy. By disturbing the peace and tranquility of the country through acts of violence, they create an atmosphere where the industrial activities would be adversely affected and economic growth will be minimised because the investors first look into the security aspect of the economy.

A strong will of the government, supported by stern actions is the only option left for rooting out the ugly face of terrorism and safeguarding the internal security. Let us all stand united to save the liberty and freedom of the country from the clutches of terrorists.

(The author is MP and president of BJP minority morcha. He can be contacted at 7, Pandit Pant Marg, New Delhi-110 001, email: shahnawazhussainmp@yahoo.co.in.)