Morale booster?

Who says it8217;s only the ranks of Naxalites that8217;s growing? Take a look: as the rebels step up their activities, the babus are making the most of it. If there was an Additional Secretary Naxal Management in the Home Ministry to handle the brief, assisted by a joint secretary and a special cell, now another post has been created 8212;- that of a joint secretary. And even as the anti-Naxal mechanism gets a boost, the menace itself continues to grow and along with it the inter-state police rivalry.

India must be one of the few countries in the world where a threat to life is a privilege. No wonder everybody wants to join the list of people facing threats from terrorists. The Army seems to have learnt this trick. One fine day recently, the Home Ministry was stumped to find the J-K Police reporting of dangers against at least five former Army chiefs, including outgoing chief Gen J J Singh, Gen V P Malik and Gen S Padmanabhan. The reasons cited included the officers8217; earlier service in the Northern Command or for heading the Army during the Kargil War or during Operation Parakram. Many wondered why it had taken so many years for the police to have suddenly woken up to the threats. Others, of course, suspect 8220;Army pressure8221; on the state cops since security cover brings with it several privileges for the protectee. In any case who would take a chance when illustrious Armymen are involved?