Editorial:
Put down terrorism with an iron hand
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The country is traumatized once again by the attacks of terrorists.
Bangalore the IT capital of India became a target of eight blasts on 25th July, leaving one dead, eight injured and the city scarred. The bombs were of low intensity, aimed more at dislocating economic activity than killing people.
Even before the country could recover from the shock, on 26th July Ahmedabad was cruelly hit by 17 serial blasts, rocking heavily crowded bazaar and residential areas and two hospitals. Compared to Bangalore, the Ahmedabad blasts were of higher intensity. The death toll has risen to around 50 and several hundreds injured. Army staged flag marches in the vulnerable areas of the city.
Only in May this year, the bomb blast in Jaipur claimed 68 precious lives. Following the serial bomb blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Kalaignar M.Karunanidhi reviewed the security arrangements with the senior police officials in Chennai on 27th July. He advised the officials to put extra security around places of worship and other areas where people move in large numbers.
Immediately after the Bangalore serial blasts, the Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil announced a new security plan for IT and other industries.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the ruling UPA Chairperson Soniaji visited Ahmedabad and consoled the injured. The Prime Minister declared that the compensation would be increased from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 4.5 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased, and from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 lakh for those injured.
It was strange that Narendra Modi’s government ignored the warning given four times by the Centre and stayed away from the crucial security review meeting that was called by the Centre on 24th July. Any how Modi followed protocol and accompanied the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi to explain the mode of attack resulting in tragedy. We hope that the Centre and the State will work in unison and trace the real culprits.
Our heart bleeds whenever we come to know of the tragedy of innocent lives being lost due to senseless terrorist attacks. Besides taking urgent measures to suppress terrorism with an iron hand, the Central and State governments should identify the root causes that give rise to terrorism.
Along with the news of the Bangalore blasts, a revealing information was given. A report prepared by the Karnataka state police department and discussed at the senior police officers’ conference in January 2008 says: “Like other parts of the country, Karnataka too is plagued with problems like fundamentalism, communalism, caste conflicts, economic disparities etc., which provide a good breeding ground for terrorism and left-wing extremism.”
As the report says religious fanaticism is a source of terrorism. Fundamentalist stand of any religion, Hinduism, Islam or Christianity, leads to extremism and violence. We should condemn it without any reservation and get rid of the poisonous growth root and branch. We should work hard to plant in its place the flora that grow to yield flowers and fruits of human kindness and understanding. While we aim ultimately at a casteless and religionless human society, we strongly feel that no one should become a victim because of his caste or religion. The state as well as the society should give protection to everyone.
When we think of science and technology being put to such destructive purposes, we even hate science and technology.
People should give absolutely no room for their religious faith to influence their relationship with other sections of people. Ramalinga Adigal, hailed as Vallalaar (one who gave munificently songs fulls of life-nurturing ideas), wished that a person should not allow himself to be obsessed with the ‘devil’ of religious sentiments. Periyar worked for a non-religious humanist social order. We hope that at least in mid-21st century their dreams will come true.
There are a few politicians who demand, utilising the happening of tragic events like this, the return of draconian laws like POTA. However, there is no evidence to back the claim that such laws would help the state machinery to contain terrorism. The attack within the parliamentary complex during A.B.Vajpayee’s primeministership, and the terrorist strike in the Sowmiyanarayan temple in Gujarat took place inspite of POTA.
As religious fundamentalism is the main cause for terrorism in our country, we should remove its source. The interpretation that secularism is giving equal respect to all religions is a wrong one, and gives room to motivated mischief. In practice it leads to the domination of the people of majority religion, leaving the minorities dissatisfied and feel neglected and discriminated. The real meaning of secularism is that religion and state should be separated. The State should not get itself involved in religious rites, ritual, ceremonies etc. It should not go beyond controlling and regulating the administrative, constitutional and human rights aspects of religion, keeping in view the common interests of the people. Making our country really secular in this sense is the urgent need of the time. It will ensure lasting peace and make the country strong.
We convey our condolences to those who have lost their kin and sympathise with the injured persons.
