India Reacts Differently To Terrorist & Maoist Attacks
There were two major terrorist attacks on Indian soil this month. The first was the attack in Pune at a German bakery in Koregaon. An explosive device was left in a shopping bag which later exploded killing at least 10 individuals including two foreign nationals. A group calling itself Laskhar-e-Taiba Al Alami has claimed responsibility for the killings.
The Pune attack was followed by a brazen attack on a security outpost by Maoist rebels which resulted in the death of 24 police officers and one civilian. This outpost was in the village of Shilda (about 170 Kilometers from Calcutta, West Bengal). A well known Maoist leader in the area who calls himself Kishenji claimed responsibility for the brutal attacks.
Many in India reacted to these events differently. This included the Indian media and Indian politicians. The attacks in Pune were condemned across the board. The moment the attack happened many of us already assumed that Pakistan was some how behind these attacks. But the government of India and its investigative agencies are yet to identify the culprits or the groups that are responsible for these attacks. It would be premature on our part to point our finger at anybody at this point.
We are a democratic society and our judicial system mandates that we have some sort of evidence in hand before we can charge anyone of any crime. It is very possible that these attacks were planned and launched by terrorist groups operating from within Indian territory. This however did not prevent many Indian politicians from requesting the Indian government to cancel the proposed secretary level meetings with Pakistan.
You do not have to be an expert to realize that one of the key goals of attacks like these is to prevent any type of peace between India and Pakistan. If and when there is peace between India and Pakistan many of the so-called terrorists will have to actually work to make a living.
The reaction to the attacks in West Bengal was more subdued. There were no calls for resignations or termination of talks. Times of India in fact had a headline that read “Unprofessional jawans were sitting ducks for Naxals”. These “unprofessional jawans” gave up their lives in the line of duty. They should be our heroes. The training of our jawans is the responsibility of the state. The state is elected by us. So if our jawans are unprofessional then what does it say about us?
But why did India react differently to the attacks in Pune and West Bengal? There are indications that nationalism and patriotism is on the rise in both India and China. This is one of the side effects of a growing economy. Patriotism and nationalism work very well when we are faced with a common enemy. Terrorism emanating from Pakistani soil is one of them.
The Maoist enemy is a much more complicated entity. It is not another country or a group but it is us. This war is similar to the American civil war. It is a war where patriotic and nationalistic neighbors are fighting and killing each other. It is a war between brothers and families.
Of course the concept of patriotism and its boundaries will also depend on which Maoist group you are talking to and will also depend on the different groups that are fighting them (example: some Maoists want to be part of India while others want autonomy or independence. Some states want to fight these rebels using the police and the army while the others want to negotiate with them).
There is another reason why we react differently. Some of us have used the terrorist attacks on India emanating from Pakistan as a platform for spewing hatred towards certain religious groups (I am sure similar individuals are doing the same in Pakistan as well). The Maoist and Naxalite problem on the other hand cuts across caste, class and religion. This makes it difficult for those of us who are religious fundamentalists to point the finger at each other.
Related posts:
- Who is a Terrorist?
- China Blocks India from Updating UNSCR 1267
- India and Pakistan: War is not the Answer
- Chinese Think Tank Proposes Breaking Up India
- Is India or America Better At Tackling Terrorism?
Category: Culture & Religion
I wrote about this too…but it seems that people are not at all interested :(
Why because it is Silda not Shimla
Just sharing the link to my post hope u don’t mind
http://braindeaf.blogspot.com/2010/02/no-candles-for-sitting-ducks.html
I feel sorry for the families of the dead policemen. I cannot understand why people are not outraged at this attack.