The fact that perception is reality is often ignored by governments at their peril. That the United Progressive Alliance (UPA-II) lacks confidence, purpose and policy is a widely-held perception. The bomb blast on September 7 outside the Delhi High Court has buttressed the impression that UPA-II is losing grip and is rudderless. The government has failed to protect the lives of the citizens of this country.
Do we run an efficient central government? No. Is our security establishment efficient? It isn’t. At the moment, neither is a source of inspiration. What lessons were learnt after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks? The answer, regrettably, is the then home minister lost his job. So who will be shown the door after the 7/9 Delhi blast?
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh often speaks of a systemic failure. Who heads the system? Where, when and how did the system fail? Since he is aware of the failures, it is for him to find solutions. The buck stops with him. A system is not invisible. It is a structure run by human beings. How are these human beings chosen — on merit or on safaris? Once chosen, they cannot be removed. Hiring is not a problem; firing is (I am not including the corporate sector). I am aware that no foolproof system exists. But there are instrumentalities and mechanisms that can ensure and enhance security.
All governments are not helpless. The US is a good example. There hasn’t been another 9/11. Osama bin Laden was hunted down and, consequently, Al Qaeda is less menacing.
The Arab Springs provides hope. Al Qaeda has not been permitted to meddle in Tunisia, Egypt or Yemen. Muslim fundamentalists have been kept at arm’s length. Even in India, Al Qaeda is not directly involved. Nevertheless, it remains a potent threat.
Eternal vigilance safeguards liberty. Every few months the terrorists get the better of our security establishment. Since 26/11, several terrorist attacks have killed and maimed innocent people in India. Our security agencies have done little. It isn’t that India lacks efficient institutions and organisations. Take the armed forces — disciplined, efficient and inspiring. The country’s IT sector is a shining example of orderliness, competence, professionalism and proficiency. Terrorism is a devilishly complex and intractable reality. It flourishes amid hatred, violence and brutality. It is not possible to build bridges of dialogue with terrorists.
So what should the government do to regain public confidence and respect? It must insist on accountability, undertake drastic reforms, reorganise the security agencies, stop creating paper tigers, and stop burdening Pranab Mukherjee with useless, non-functioning groups of ministers. Ved Marwah and Kiran Bedi have made some helpful, and practical, suggestions in this regard. The government should not hesitate to consult them.
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A peculiar Indian phenomenon is the instant march of politicians to hospitals following terrorist attacks. Their arrival, with large security details, prevents doctors, nurses and other medical staff from attending to the victims properly. The VIPs can only hinder, not help. I am not suggesting that the prime minister or chief ministers and leaders of political parties give up visiting the injured. They should but only after 24 hours have passed since the incident. Photo opportunities should be avoided.
The administrative and moral soil of UPA-II is slipping away by the day. Centre-state dissonance is leading to unseemly blame games. A Lt governor contradicts the home minister. A chief minister refuses to accompany the prime minister on a formal visit to a neighbouring country. Half a dozen chief ministers choose to keep away from a meeting called by the prime minister. Such disarray bodes ill for UPA-II. Mr Assange and his WikiLeaks continue to offer mirth and melancholy. It seems the US embassy in New Delhi has much time on its hands. Trivia takes precedence over substance. It is also aiming to appoint pliable ministers and give them portfolios chosen by the embassy.
What is disturbing is our officials sharing confidences with diplomats from the US and other missions in Delhi. Excessive chumminess is risky. Some embassies are adept at inciting unsuspecting, gullible officials by promising lucrative jobs for their relatives.
TAILPIECE
I have been reading Nobel laureate Amartya Sen’s gripping, provocative and delightfully written book, The Argumentative Indian. However, the most argumentative Indian does not find a place in the book. I am referring to Nirad C Chaudhuri.
Dr Sen devotes as many as 19 pages to “India and The Bomb”. He quotes eminent Indians: A P J Abdul Kalam, Amitav Ghosh, Arundhati Roy, C Rammanohar Reddy and so on. But he does not mention the very significant debate in the Lok Sabha on the 1998 Pokhran II nuclear tests. The issue led to an informed debate. The then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee made a strong case for the tests. From the Congress side, well-argued and powerful speeches were heard with attention in unusual silence. It was a memorable occasion. I, too, was a participant.