Sunday, September 21, 2008
Terror Attacks, why are they viewed only as a security problem?
Every time there is a terror attack one is attuned to hearing the same set of concerns around security, policing, intelligence agencies and the Home Ministry's inaction. Even during the recent blasts the proposals that came forth from the two major political parties were related to security - while the Congress talked of setting up a central inter-governmental Anti-Terrorist Cell, the BJP called for a strong Anti-Terrorist Law like the POTA. Now, why don't we take a more holistic view of the problem? Ignoring the socio-religious angle of Jihadi terrorism and treating it as a mere security problem makes the issue intractable because honestly, how do you effectively police a country of a billion people? Is it practically plausible? How can you prevent a person from dropping a bag full of bombs into a dustbin in a crowded place like Gaffaar market? I get the feeling that involving the Islamic community in seeking a solution to the terrorism problem will yield faster results. Merely beefing up security agencies and improving policing will take you only so far, engaging with the Muslim community will strike the problem at its roots and weaken the terrorists' support system. Every time a Jihadi attack against innocents happens, we should have Maulana's and Maulvi's coming on TV and condemning these acts in harshest terms. Islam is one religion that yields its influence beyond the realms of spirituality and rituals, it actually permeates and dictates the social and political behavior of its followers (the conservative kind). When terrorists claim legitimacy for their acts by pointing to religion, why don't we have religious leaders coming forward and denouncing these claims? This way at least the average Muslim on the streets would get a clear message about where to place his sympathies. The other day, when there was a shootout in Delhi's Jammia Islamia area, the locals came out and protested against police harrassment. The average Mulsim doesn't know whose side he is on? In such times of insecurity the community tends to get closer and rally around its symbols of identity, namely the mosque and the Maulvi. Now if the Maulvi is able to replace this feeling of victimization and hatred with that of nationhood and cooperation, it would be a huge help towards eliminating the scourge of Jihadi terrorism.
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