Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Tackling terror

The Prime Minister has described the Mumbai and Srinagar blasts as cowardly attempts to spread panic among the people, and promised that the Government will take all possible measures to defeat the forces of terrorism. Whenever a bombing occurs, the Government makes such tall proclamations. All leaders condemn the act and visit the site/hospital in large numbers, at the expense of taxpayers' money, for an on-the-spot assessment. Soon they are back to votebank politics, encouraging future strikes.

K.S. Varada Desikan,
Chennai

We get to hear the same rhetoric every time there is a blast anywhere. Are condemnation, enhanced security for a few days, and relief packages enough to curb terrorism? At the end of the day civilians are responsible for their own safety with a dim hope that somewhere someone — god or government — is perhaps there to safeguard their lives.

Tarun Jangid,
Ghaziabad, U.P.

As in all earlier terrorist strikes, the powers that be have issued statements condemning terrorist strikes, and assured us that terrorism will not be tolerated and will be put down with an iron hand. Be it in Kashmir, Gujarat, Bangalore, Mumbai or anywhere else, that is the end of the story. Terrorists will continue striking terror, politicians will continue to occupy seats of power with all the privileges they entail, and innocent civilians will continue to suffer loss of limb, life, and property.

M.V. Devraj,
Bangalore

One more tragedy and the victims are innocent citizens. The Government continues to be a mute spectator despite similar incidents in the past. Enormous public money is spent on providing security to our present and former politicians. Even if half of it is withdrawn to deploy at sensitive places, disasters such as the serial blasts can be avoided in future.

T. Radhika,
Chennai

The terrorists must have realised by now that we are governed by politicians who are leading comfortable lives with `Z' category security cover, paid for by the taxpayers. It is a matter of shame that a country of one billion people is humiliated by a handful of terrorists because our politicians couldn't care less. I salute the courage and fortitude of the people of Mumbai in facing any calamity without expecting anything from the Government.

Captain K. Vasudevan (retd.),
Coimbatore

The blasts saw the spirited response of a brave city, recently given the tag of the rudest city in the world. When the dust settles, we will have only policies such as repeal of POTA and calls for lifting the ban on organisations like SIMI to blame for increasing acts of terror.

Badrinatha Tripathy,
Canyon, Los Angeles

The meticulous planning involved in the blasts proves that there is a very strong local network of terrorists. There is no dearth of supporters, sympathisers and active members for the so-called external forces. Ours is a country where so-called elected representatives unanimously pass a resolution for the freedom of a terrorist accused of killing innocent people. No wonder we keep getting what we deserve.

Udita Agrawal,
New Delhi

Terrorists thrive on three factors — strong financial backing, enabling them to strike at will using state-of-the-art technology, commitment to an ideology of violence sans any guilt on killing the innocent, and local support. All these have to be dealt with ruthlessly. I do not think any political party has the ability to do so. The parties are either blind to the problem or over-react, indulging in rhetoric.

S. Madhavan,
Mumbai

We have had enough `expressions of shock' and assurances of `we will take up the issue with Pakistan.' The Government has been doing it for many years while families are being bereaved. An attack on the twin towers could start a war. While we do not advocate war, we certainly expect the Prime Minister to go beyond rhetoric and the traditional visit to the blast site.

J. Pramod,
Kochi, Kerala

Soon after a terror strike, the whole country is put on alert. Security is tightened in all crucial cities. Slowly, precautions and monitoring slacken. But the terrorists remain alert and wait for the earliest opportunity. Unless the Government maintains the high level of alertness, it is not possible to counter terrorism. When it can provide round-the-clock security to political leaders, from Ministers to MPs and MLAs, why not to the people?

V. Gopalakrishna,
Chennai

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