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Journalism of Courage
As the UPA Government works on formation of a federal investigative agency to probe terrorism-related crimes, former National Security Advisor (NSA) during the previous NDA regime Brajesh Mishra on Friday said what the country needed was a federal counter-terrorism agency.
Speaking at a ‘Conference on Terrorism and National Security’ organised by FICCI, Mishra said since politicians in the country were susceptible to populist pressures, the response to fighting terrorism should come from the masses. “The masses should force political leaders into acting,” he said.
Mishra also applauded the consensus among political parties on terrorism in Thursday’s debate in the Lok Sabha, hoping it lasts.
Former Union minister and BJP leader Arun Shourie lamented that despite the consensus that police reforms were needed, nothing was happening. He said the time had come for India to take the battle to Pakistan. “Nationalism can’t be a dirty word. While India is suffering at the hands of Pakistan-trained terrorists, we can’t just sit back,” he stressed.
Congress leader M Veerappa Moily said the terrorists are trying to cripple India’s industry. “Time has come to do a re-think on the State’s role on the law and order front, especially fighting terrorism,” he said, adding it was high time the masses told the law-makers and the executive to stop dilly-dallying on the issue of national security.
Former director, Intelligence Bureau, Ajit Kumar Doval described the war on terror as a new war against an invisible enemy. “Yesterday’s war is over. This is a new war. The enemy mixes with civil society, making anti-terrorist operations difficult. This calls for development of covert systems and equipment to fight the enemy,” he asserted. He took exception to the statements of some leaders who said Pakistan was also a victim of terrorism.
Former National Security Guards (NSG) director general Ved Prakash Marwah said it was imperative to strengthen and depoliticise the intelligence and security agencies.
