The first anti-terror law, Tada, was repealed because of its gross misuse by tainted investigation agencies, so was its softer version, Pota. The existing penal laws that are a legacy of the British are also misused day in and day out, again by a thoroughly-corrupt section of police, customs and the CBI. In other words, the diabolic nexus between politicians, bureaucrats and investigating agencies is squarely responsible for the prevalent lawlessness that’s in turn responsible for the several accentuated terror attacks at almost every conceivable public place – the Taj and Oberoi hotels in Mumbai, Akshardham temple in Delhi and other religious congregations and busy markets.
Since the time of Indira Gandhi, all tragic events at home have been seen having a “foreign hand”.
Except for poverty, corruption and misrule, all malaise continues to enjoy the blessings of the “foreign hand”. One set of NSG-protected lawmakers gets ousted because of “anti-incumbency” and the other takes over. Nothing changes. Helpless people, who require the attention of the well-trained, motivated and focused NSG commandos from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, continue fall victim to mindless violence.
Sum and total, one of the reasons for the increasing terror activities in the world’s biggest democracy that finds a place among the world’s most corrupt nations too, is greed among the so-called protectors.
In the 1993 serial bombings of Mumbai, many customs officials were involved in offloading RDX, sophisticated arms and ammunition at the harbour along the Arabian Sea.
Last week’s bloody carnage in Mumbai wouldn’t have been possible if customs had done its job and other agencies responsible for keeping a round-the-clock vigil searched roaming vessels sincerely and regularly. They too played a vital role in facilitating the arrival of the lethal consignment. The police and central intelligence agencies too stood exposed during the siege.
It’s trite that inefficiency breeds corruption. Corruption breeds trauma and tragedies for citizens and defames a country that swears by the name of Mahatma Gandhi.
It’s not late, nor should it be impossible for the political governance to get rid of tainted and corrupt personnel. The Constitution provides articles 310 and 311 empowering the government to dispense with personnel on the grounds of inefficiency and national interest.
b_rakesh@dnaindia.net
