Turning a Blind Eye Doesn't Help

(I wrote this after Blasts took place in Bangalore and Ahamedabad few weeks ago)


As in the past, television, newspapers and all sources of media reported the incident prominently in prime-time slots and front pages. But you know, tomorrow some other ‘news’ will make them forget the ghastly incidents. People have lost interest in what these journalists say; they comment about the sad state of affairs and then forget it accepting defeat in the hands of ‘fate’. Police carry out some investigation, claim it to be the handiwork of the investigative agency from across the border and move on! Either no one is arrested or no arrest leads to a breakthrough in the investigation so that any individual, group or country can be pinned down. Government and politicians make speeches, some political parties say "terrorism has no religion", ask the "majority to maintain calm" and the opposition says "government is soft on terror"… All so very predictable!

A question must be asked: Is anybody concerned? Is anybody ready to see the larger picture, so to speak? Is anybody doing anything to safeguard ordinary citizens and the nation from terrorists?

It seems concerned citizens are a minority and are in no position to make any substantive change in the Indian society, which is now full of those who lust over money, sell their souls, and betray the nation. The rest are bigmouthed non-performers who fancy being known as 'intellectuals'. The third group is the biggest culprit: "I don’t care; it’s commonplace," muse idiots. It’s high time for action. Those who are concerned should chart out long-term and short-term strategies to fight the menace.

Terrorism may not have a religion, but terrorists do. Everybody knows that there is only one religion, thousands of whose followers call for and subscribe to “global jihad”. Study any other terrorist group (Maoists, LTTE, ULFA, etc), and you will find that their recruits have not assembled under an umbrella in the name of religion; what unites them is a political or an economic reason. Besides, there co-religionists from different parts of the world do not throng India or sneak into it to join them in the assault on this state.

Therefore, in the short term, if madrassahs, especially those along the Pakistan and Bangladesh border, are monitored, it should help. It’s very unfortunate that violence-free interpretations of the sacred texts of Islam do not arouse the kind of passion in Muslim crowds that violence-ridden rhetoric by Islamic fundamentalists do. It is true that peaceful Muslims are more in number, but their lack of prominence as anti-jihadis in the national scene does a tremendous disservice to the whole community. “Islam means peace/welfare” and “we condemn terrorism” sound vacuous when these sound-bytes are given by moderate Muslims a day after every terrorist strike in India. Whatever happened to the recent fatwa against terrorism? Was it valid? Does Islam authorise such edicts? Did any Muslim take that fatwa seriously?

The other strategy is for the members of the media to sit together and agree upon. How about reporting a terrorist attack in a bland manner instead of getting into the gory, graphic details? Remember, the sight of blood that shocks an ordinary citizen, inspires the terrorist at the same time.

Next, “difficult terrains” is no excuse. Borders with Bangladesh and Pakistan should be completely sealed. All illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators should be sent back.

A medium-term plan involves politics. The legislature should make tough laws and the executive take tougher, faster actions, instead of indulging in minority appeasement and vote-bank politics.

In the long term, people should be made aware of the real causes and nature of terrorism. They should be explained how terrorism is not only a political motive of our western neighbour, but also a religious motive deeply rooted in such Islamic doctrines that instigate jihad, whose supporters are many within the country. This could be done by publishing books, pamphlets and holding conferences, in mass awareness programmes.

Government should corner the country’s hostile neighbours in the international community and not be soft on them on the issues of national security. So far, diplomatic pressure on the countries sponsoring or harbouring terrorists has left a lot to be desired. India realises that it has to fight this war alone. But the grit of a lone fighter is conspicuous by its absence.

Rise India!