How concerned are the people about the internal and external security of the country? Apart from moments like the Kargil war, involvement of the public in security is declining rapidly. I will exemplify it by recent events. After triple judicial scrutiny, the Supreme Court gave the death sentence to Afzal Guru, mastermind of attack on Parliament.

Gulam Nabi Azad, Chief Minister of J&K unabashedly told the Congress high command that if it was done, Srinagar would burn. The Government developed cold feet and decided to take shelter under technicalities. Against this, Anti-Terrorism Front leader MS Bitta, organised a march of widows of those securitymen who had sacrificed their lives for security of Parliament but could not continue with the agitation in the absence of outrageous public anger. A section of the people, mainly NGOs, successfully confused the masses. Now, Afzal Guru may die a natural death in jail.

One may, also, recall mercy petitions like the unanimous resolution of Kerala Assembly for the release of the mastermind of Coimbatore bomb blast, Maulana Madani. More than 200 people were killed in that blast, though chief target LK Advani, escaped as his flight got delayed.

Every party in Kerala Assembly was seeking votes from Madani's followers. People by and large get immunised and non-serious in such an environment. If terrorism is taken non-seriously, only God can save the country.

For a decade-and-a-half, intensified jehadi attacks have taken toll of more than 60,000 people, including many security personnel. But we continue to play cricket with Pakistan. Crores of people enjoy cricket, turning a blind eye to the suffering of the innocent in Kashmir. Cricket patriotism takes precedence over slitting of throats of hundreds of Hindus by Pakistani jehadis. The process of immunisation of masses, thus, gets internalised.

Maoist violence is taking place in 162 districts of 14 States. In 2004, all varieties of Maoists, Naxalities and the People's War Group got united. Innocent people get killed. Developmental activities are halted. The recent bandh in five States demonstrates this aspect. In Jharkhand, the stoppage of coal movement caused revenue loss of millions of rupees to the exchequer. Obviously, the red corridor is widening dangerously. The dramatic emergence of Maoists in Nepal politics got a helping hand from CPM.

In the North-East, out of 79 districts, 51 are suffering at the hands of violent separatists groups. ISI agents are well entrenched in 12 out of 14 districts in J&K. Apart from J&K, the ISI network is operational in other parts of the country as well.

Insurgent groups are active in 51 out of 79 N-E districts with the help of ISI and Bangladeshi infiltrators. In UP, their network is powerful and they play havoc as and when they choose. One can recall recent blasts in the first class compartment of a Mumbai local train, killing 200 people. This bloodbath was caused by a couple of Pak agents and a dozen of their local associates. In all, 224 out of 604 districts of India are periodically subjected to bloody violence.

In Andhra Pradesh, in 22 out of 23 districts, Maoists have a considerable following. To get their votes the Congress entered into an alliance with Maoists and won, defeating the popular Chandrababu Naidu. This emboldened the Maoists throughout the country. But at what cost? All this immunises the masses as per their prevailing conditions. In the last three years, security problems have become more serious. No country can afford to dilute security concerns in their policy framework. In the West, even the slightest symptom of Islamic fundamentalism is responded to with serious action. There is no doubt that security is not a priority in India.

The present situation has many alarming questions. Will the map of India be the same after 25 years? There are many who feel that the North-East will not be there on the Indian map. Strategists warn of the emergence of Muslim States by creating the scenario of direct action. A few hundred academic researches are going to the West to deconstruct India.

The Chinese have made road and rail links up to Arunachal Pradesh. It has encircled India by alliances with Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

External security challenges are as dangerous as internal. In a situation like this, the present generation must think that what type of India their children will inherit after 25 years.

I am no prophet of doom but whatever I have said contains substance and can't be wished away by passive citizenry. Secularism practised in a distorted manner is the surest way to national anarchy.

Courtesy: www.dailypioneer.com, July 08, 2007