Combating terror

This refers to 8216;NSA meets top US anti-terror outfits8217;. Of late, there have been reports in the media that India should learn from the US how to prevent terror.

8226; This refers to 8216;NSA meets top US anti-terror outfits8217;. Of late, there have been reports in the media that India should learn from the US how to prevent terror. A step has been taken in the right direction but one wonders why so much time was wasted? Finally the NSA has set the ball rolling but we still have a long wait to see any visible effect. One is curious, meanwhile, as to where the government will begin.

8212; Deepak Chikramane

Mumbai

8226; The national security advisor, M.K. Narayanan, did get to meet the US director of national intelligence, Mike McConnell, to learn how the US successfully prevented terrorists from repeating 9/11. That is as far as it goes. How effectively a policy works depends on the political will of the party in power. Unfortunately the Indian government fails on this count. Let8217;s take an example: acting on a tip off from one of the arrested terrorists, the Delhi police arrest two students of the Jamia Millia Islamia University. While the matter is still under investigation, the Jamia VC sanctions legal aid for them. A senior Congress leader, and Union minister, endorses the VC8217;s action. By its vote bank politics, the ruling UPA turns a success into defeat. What will even the best of advice do if this is how the government acts?

8212; R.J. Khurana

Bhopal

8226; If India8217;s capital, bearing the brunt of successive blasts, is not safe, how can we ensure the security of the country as a whole? Politically, we have no means of combating terrorism as the government is busy dealing with the United States. Let the Union government display its political will to deal with terror and then seek advice from India8217;s friends.

8212; Anuvrat Arya

New Delhi

Tread with caution

8226; This refers to the editorial 8216;Friend in deed8217;. While the editorial justly praises Manmohan Singh and George W. Bush on the civilian nuclear deal, some of its observations seem far-fetched. The suggestion that India and the US now consider an unprecedented political co-operation to stabilise Pakistan and Afghanistan is one example. Such an effort will have military implications and might even involve India indirectly in the US war on terror in Pakistan.

8212; Ramesh R. Jadhav

Pune

Not quite enough

8226; L.K. Advani he needs to be told that, in the Indian context, secularism means an abiding respect for all faiths, as well as allowing them to be practised without fear or favour. The continuing attacks on Christians in Orissa and Karnataka, where the NDA calls the shots, has significantly damaged India8217;s secular image. As the prime minister designate of the BJP, Advani would need to do more than merely highlight his Christian schooling.

8212; J.M. Manchanda

New Delhi