Terrorism – The Greatest Threat to India

One of the greatest threat India is facing in the 21^st century is that of terrorism, both from inside and outside of its territory. For the past six or seven weeks, India is reeling under maoist attacks.

While the government has succeeded in curbing terrorist attacks from outside after 26/11, it has failed miserably in tackling maoist activities. There is no unity inside the government or the UPA regarding this issue. While the Home Minister is in the view that we have to use air force against the maoists, some others are in the view that we cannot use air force against our own people. But these people should answer some questions; should the people who wage war against India be considered as Indians? Should the people who abide by the Constitution of India have any right to live safely and peacefully in India? Whatever reasons the maoists or the human rights activists put forward, they cannot justify the killing of innocent civilians and jawans.

We have one of the top air forces in the world today. Then why the government is hesitating to use it against the maoists? These forces are meant for securing the life and property of Indians. The government is reiterating the need for a two pronged strategy for dealing with the maoists; one prong being military action and the other being development in these areas. But this two pronged strategy seems to be in a deadlocked situation now; how can development reach in an area where the maoists are frequently blowing up roads and rails? How can the government get the support of the people in curbing maoist activities without development in these areas? So this approach should be revisited, in my opinion. There should be more coordination among the Central and State governments.

The Government of India should show the courage to suppress the maoist activities at any cost. Neither the Government nor the Opposition should look for cheap political gains from this issue. The maoists should be swept out of Indian soil at the earliest. The Indian Government should have the courage to do what Mahinda Rajapaksa has done in Sri Lanka. It was because of the courage shown by Rajapaksa that Sri Lanka finally ended the almost three decade long civil war.