Serious security issues in handling terrorism

What has happened in Mumbai during Book release of Khurshid Mohammed Kassuri and black painting of face of Sudhendera Kulkarni has caught the attention of the media and has been splashed across the nation but what the book contains and how it exposes hallowed security system of India is not noted by majority of the media and news channels.

Kasuri’s  book in more than nine hundred pages does not reveal much of what Pakistan is doing or its diplomatic strategies and policies. On the other hand it shows detailed exposure of India’s porous security system and lack of leadership in making decisions on crucial matters in time. It is difficult to authenticate the facts as narrated by him but since these are in print and in public domain it is ipen top those who are mentioned in the book to vouch for it or to contradict it. So far nothing has come oput to rebut him.

Kasuri tells a very poignant story of vacillation and unpreparedness of Indian government in tackling 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai.Kasuri’s version can be summarized in following words; First meeting took place With Pm on 28thNovember. Manmohan Singh, A.K.Antony, National security adviser M.K.Naryanan Chiefs of Intellegencve Bureaue and Raw, Chiefs of Navy, Air, and Dy Chief of Army( as Chief was away on foreign tour) . First alternative response to Pakistan considered was cold start  that is like parapheral attack and it was discarded as the Dy Chief of army wanted to wait for the return of the Chief on foreign tour. Naval action was not conceived as Naval Chief said they are not ready. Already Intelligence agencies were livid with Navy for not intercepting the boats carrying terrorists when they were aware that boat off Karachi port were coming and Raw was informed by CIA.

Next Air Chief was ready for selected targeting terror camps but wanted exact coordinates. Intelligence had no idea about it and Air force did not want to hit civil population. Covert operation was also discarded as India lacked capability.  All the five alternatives were suggested by civil officer and not by forces and these were stated to be focused on Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

He expresses surprise that all options were suggested by civil experts and nothing from uniformed forces. Finally all were discarded although in the beginning of the meeting all wanted to punish the attackers’ bases as it was confirmed later also that Pakistani citizens were carrying out the attack on the Hotel Taj.

Finally India opted for diplomatic alternatives and perhaps cancelled cricket match. The entire narration is serious indictment of India and its government on an issue for which the public outrage was boiling at that time. Any sensible citizen would hang his head in shame on this account unless it is false as still no confirmation or denial has come but it is in the book in black and white without any contradiction. It raises also many serious issues:

First how Pakistan knew all this and how details were available about the top secret meeting of India to enemy country or its former Minister. When a country was facing emergency why after even two days when the operation was on. Army chief was not called and meeting held without him? When he attended meeting on 2^nd December the situation was no different.

Why only civil personnel were suggesting strategies and army or navy and air force had no ideas to deal with the situation? Why no creative plan was not explored or developed to take Pakistan by surprise?

In two serious cases of security violations first the hijacking of Indian Airlines plane when Atal Behari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister and on terror attack of 26/11 the Indian response was late and also very laid back and devoid of guts or courage. They failed to learn any lesson from Israel and other nations who have done much better handling of emergency situations like this. Handling of Hijacking was also disaster as were bargained very costly exchange of terrorists with release of passengers and air craft. Plane should have been stormed at Amritsar but entire delay and inexperience of people handling it spelled doom.

It is important to review the entire security preparation and learn lessons from these two serious mishandled terrorists’ intrusions in our security shield.

Bus Stop

First Passenger: Why these Shiv sainks are behaving in rowdy manner and scuttling cricket match?

Second Passenger: They are imitating the behavior of MPs in Parliament.

--Prof N.K.Singh former Chairman International Airports Authority of India

Congress must save itself to preserve democracy

The star of Congress is sinking but it needs to revive its libido to keep the ideals of democracy intact in the nation as it can only be a true and good opposition that is a sine qua non for the soul of our political structure as envisioned by the framers of constitution. Although constitution itself needs an independent and non political review to attune it to the goals of prosperity by diminishing poverty and inequality as well as growth to meet the demands of new world order. In this context to renew the spirit of healthy debate and mass contact to reflect their aspirations are unshakable routes.

Congress is not the only party to perform the role of good opposition as neither left nor regional outfits have the vision of future of this country. Left itself is vanishing with a few pockets of influence. AAP is emerging as a substitute for Congress but that is what will spell disaster of anarchism with manipulative and unethical politics. This has become pretty clear with the working of AAP in last few years and dwindling governance of Delhi. As Captain Amrinder Singh and Bajwa have already read the writing on the wall that they have competition with AAP that will fight to capture space from them and could be major hurdle in their recapturing Punjab power. Same has happened in Delhi. Congress needs to strongly etch out its identity as the party of Gandhi Patel and Nehru.

Congress has made a blunder in aping BJP to stall the parliament and oppose everything that NDA wants to do . It is painting the party as anti development and not a good role for a constructive and responsible opposition. It is true that it has received heavy drubbing in Parliament Polls and got only 44 seats in a parliament of more than 500. But should act gracefully to accept the mandate of the country and work to change the route it followed which led to disaster. First of all it has to remove the stigma of scams and corruption which has tarnished its record of governance. It must now set its house in order and remove all those CMs and leaders who are tainted. This operation clean up must send a message that Party means business and is earnest to be real follower Gandhi Nehru tradition. It need not compete with BJP to say they too are corrupt or they too were stalling parliament but its must set its own model and clean image as a responsible opposition that can emerge as the majority next time. Even Robert Wadra should be asked to take a back seat and not bask in lime light.

Next big task before Congress is to set its organization in order that has been butchered and deformed by the corrupt and ambitious leaders. The poison of corruption and money power has been injected vein deep in the cadres and those who are honest and clean get elbowed out by the money power. It needs heavy surgical operation to restore its health. Any sick person need to flush out his poison and toxic element. Now the party has nothing to lose but its shackles to use words of Marx as it is already being wiped out and Bihar will not give it much hope. It should go for a  major and drastic overhaul. Sonia Gandhi has no threat as no one has staked claim to leadership and no one could do so as long as dynasty has the control. No competent leader is in sight to replace the dynasty.

Congress should draw out a fresh and new agenda for action as simply countering Modi is not a positive and long term success mantra. Once the grass root cadres, cleaned and revitalized, start work with masses it will slowly regain their confidence. There is no instant solution and Party should not seek miraculous cure. Patient and long term revival is the only route but strategy and direction has to be clear.

Rahul must be briefed well and trained to avoid wearing mantle of Aristotle when talking to folks as when he says Poverty is state of mind etc. He must be given sensible and logical scripts and act as the humble soldier of the party rather than Don Quixote. By euphemism or denigrating words he cannot capture the imagination of masses as they would like to think of him as nice young man and not such wily and scornful person as he is posing for the sake of opposing NDA at any cost. For reinventing Congress the party should avoid aping AAP or Modi as both have their own way but he must chose fresh and new direction rather than doing what they do .Gandhi was original and so were leaders who made a mark in politics although they learn from all successful models but not blindly copy them. Let be humble soldier leading lone a battle for truth in Congress rather than a spoiled child image.

Bus Stand

First passeger: Anurag Thakur again hit sixer by successful IPL match in Dharamshala. What will Congress do?l

Second Passenger. They will soon do Hawabazi by paragliding .

--Prof N.K.Singh former Chairman International Airports Authority of India