One would shudder to imagine the next chapter of Islamic terrorism in India. As far as Pakistan is concerned, either there has been military rule or nominal democracy under strict vigilance of the military. There are many ills in Indian democracy but none would dare to deny that vibrant democracy still prevails.

There may be a tendency of dynastic rule in the Congress and to a smaller extent among some regional parties. But people's participation in the electoral process is by and large satisfactory. The regime change through electoral system is honoured and democracy thrives.

Ultimately, the numbers count. It is no secret that many people in Pakistan crave for an India like democracy. But extremists there don't believe in democracy, secularism and human rights, simply because the Western democratic system evolved almost a millennium after the birth of Prophet Mohammed.

As far as India is concerned it practised some form of democracy in various parts of the country for at least four millennia, from the panchayat system to the Lichhavis. This is why the value system of democracy and secularism runs through our social fabric. There are hundreds of studies about Islam in the West and India.

A most recent book Bad Faith by Neil J Kressel says that some religions, including Islamic doctrines, are apt to inspire hatred and extremism. Violent hatred is inclusive among a large sections of Islamic extremists.

Pak Islamist operatives have been helping Kashmiri Muslims as well as other Muslims in India with a view to carrying on continuous homicide, bombings, killing of innocent people and destruction of temples.

Their network is multiplying. Selfish Muslim votebank practitioners do not see the end result of this. Otherwise, India would have been shocked after knowing about the hidden terrorist camps run mostly by Pakistanis where highly educated extremists were to target 11 places in Karnataka and Goa. The targets included Siddarudda Math, railway stations, airports, ISKON temple and IT establishments.

One may recall an attack on a seminar of scientists at Bangalore where eminent scientists died. Similarly, Dawood executed ISI planned Bombay blasts simultaneously at more than a dozen places, killing more than 250 people.

This attack included targeting of Bombay Stock Exchange also. The story of attacks on Ayodhya, Kashi, Akshardham, Raghunath Mandir in Jammu were expressions of extreme religious hatred.

The way Pakistan's ISI has created multi-layered network with separatists of North-East and Maoists of half-a-dozen States is indicative of its vast destruction plans, much bigger than you can imagine.

In hundreds of cities, Pakistani cells have explosives and manpower. And, if they can explode in first class coaches of Mumbai's local trains, they have the capability of striking at thousands of places of their choice simultaneously.

The Government's representative met LK Advani to warn him of a possible attack on him and Narendra Modi during the scheduled Sankalp Yatra.

He was also informed that this time it was Dawood who was planning the attacks. It is a known fact that the ISI conducted Bombay blasts without the knowledge of the then Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. This threat to Advani is not new.

During the 1998 General Election, they almost eliminated him at Coimbatore. Only good luck saved him as his plane was late. However, more than 250 persons were killed.

As far as the threat to Advani's life is concerned, it has been there from the late 1980s. In a city like Lucknow they prepared for the act but some unexpected blockade compelled them to abandon it.

One does not know what is the intention of the Government in formally conveying the threat to Advani. As far as I know, on all previous occasions the security threat was conveyed but not publicised.

Being a mass leader propagated as a Hindu hardliner by his opponents has made Advani a target of Islamic extremists and ISI operatives.

Being a disciplinarian he adheres to the security discipline. Not that the Sankalp Yatra has been cancelled or postponed, it has duly commenced at Jabalpur.

In a massive rally a sharper message reverberated in the media and among the public. The yatra is only being re-scheduled. The party and its leaders have the courage to withstand any hurdles.

In the last two days, I have seen TV programmes wherein half a dozen generals have been critical of the UPA Government for having repealed Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA). This is one of the major steps which make UPA look like half-allies of terrorists.

Courtesy: www.dailypioneer.com, February 10, 2008