Act on internal security first, energy would follow

In India, this past week was marked by two significant developments which could pose serious implications for short and long-term politics.

First the historic Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement has inched closer to its logical conclusion. Only do a few formalities remain before the agreement is signed which in turn would catapult India into the league of the super power nations and would also add lot of pride to India’s standing in the world. It is a major feat for the Manmohan Singh government – a coalition led by the Indian National Congress called United Progressive Alliance in power at Centre since 2004 – and in months ahead leading to the General Elections 2009 we are certain to see lot of hubbub around this issue. The UPA would want to get the best electoral gains out of this historic Indo-US Civilain Nuclear Agreement, which would pave the way for generation of nuclear power in the country among others.

But all the gains and hopes around this deal could get dashed given a second development that has left the whole nation jittery and nervous. From Kashmir to Orissa, Karnataka, Gujarat and Delhi, internal security is deteriorating everyday and the government seems increasingly feeble and incompetent in tackling it. Nothing affects people more than their immediate well being and the Congress knows it too well. When price of onions and bad roads could unseat governments, this one pertains to life and death.

Delhi serial blasts and explosions in recent past have made a mockery of government’s handling of terror. People are being mauled at will, terror groups are having a free run, violence has become a buzzword and people are feeling insecure like never before. What is worse the government has done little to contain any of these deviant acts – be it the open war cry against Indian state by Kashmiri separatists at Sri Nagar’s Lal Chowk, defiant groups killing innocent mercilessly in Kandhamal and Karnataka, terror groups planting bombs at a drop of the hat, Naxalites’ blowing up police posts at a wink and Muslim groups’ open and blatant challenge to the State. Even as I write this I learn of a gruesome act by Maoists in northeastern state of Chhattisgarh – they have triggered a landmine blast blowing up a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vehicle hours before the President of India was to visit the region.

All we have following all such acts is nothing more than ritualistic one-liners from leaders that lack both in conviction and courage. PM Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi have issues fancy one-liners after Delhi was rattled yet again – twice in a fortnight – this past Saturday.

Elections are round the corner and all the good things that UPA government may have done will come down crumbling if situation on ground related to security of people does not improve. Time is running out for the government. One wonders a government which can’t even nudge one of its weakest Home Ministers in recent past to come out of slumber, would be able to take strong, immediate and effective measures.

If the Congress wishes to capitalize on the historic agreement with US and so many good things it has done during its stint at the Centre, it must tell its people first that it can provide a secure environment so that they are better able to relish the fruits of energy security.

Internal security far outweighs energy security and perhaps UPA would learn it the hard way.

Opposition and especially Bhartiya Janata Party, meanwhile, are having a ball of a time.

Omar Abdullah keeps the hope alive

What we gained out of the special Parliament session

The two-day Parliament session, as we predicted on July 19, turned out to be among the most memorable in the history of independent Indian politics. Unfortunately, it is being remembered for all the wrong reasons: the brazen display of wads of notes by three BJP MPs and soaring tempers coupled with volley of verbal onslaught clouded the session, which was convened to discuss if we as a nation are willing to go ahead with the Indo-US Civilian Nuclear Agreement.

However, I for once, would remember this for variety of other reasons. And one among them is an impassioned speech by young and dynamic Omar Abdullah which left an indelible mark on my heart. It also left me reassured that there are few incredible sparks amid the dim and gloom of Indian politics which will eventually define the future of our polity.

Abdullah, who was assigned to speak at a critical time when a rampaging group of NDA MPs were taking the House by storm over the currency ‘scandal’, stood firm and began aptly by taking a swipe at them and asking them to give “us a voice” in a direct reference to the people and place he represented. And next few moments in that historic session belonged to this 30-year-old J&K National Conference MP from Srinagar, perhaps the most memorable for the leader himself who has been in public domain for last 10 years now.

The beauty of Abdullah’s speech lies in the fact that besides being cogent, fervent and precise, it touched upon a whole range of political issues and left a lasting impact on not only his constituency but also on a whole generation of Indian youth who pin their hope on leaders like him. He attacked the BJP and the Left, made an ardent plea for the Nuclear Agreement and argued why it was not anti-Muslim as was being made out, made a case for Kashmiris who toil hard every year to ensure success of Amarnath Yatra and rubbished Opposition claims that neither Muslims were opposed to the Nuclear Agreement nor the Agreement was anti-Muslim.

His speech had conviction, maturity, strong political messages and logical and factual prowess.

“I am a Muslim and I am an Indian and I see no distinction between the two. I don’t know why should I fear the nuclear deal. It is a deal between two countries which, I hope, will become two equals in the future,” said Abdullah, who it seems was aptly nominated Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum in 2000-01. He further said, “The enemies of Indian Muslims are not America or deals like these. The enemies are the same as the enemies of all those who are poor — poverty, hunger, lack of development and the absence of a voice.”

Taking a dig at the Left, Abdullah said, “Today, the Left is telling me that all secular parties should stand with the BJP to bring down this government. The same Left treated me like a political untouchable when I was with the NDA” and added articulating his acts of political rights and wrongs, “I am not a member of the UPA and don’t aspire to be one. I made a mistake to be with the NDA, especially after Gujarat riots happened. My conscience had asked me to quit NDA but I didn’t. My conscience has still not forgiven me.” He had by now made a solid point. But that was not it.

In reference to LK Advani’s reference to disturbances caused during Amarnath Yatra, Abdullah said, “Until the day there is even a single Muslim in Kashmir, from Srinagar to Amarnath, the Amarnath yatra will not be allowed to stop.”

The tall Abdullah had emerged taller at the end of his speech. In the days ahead, when political situation is likely to remain fluid, one would expect Abdullah is catapulted into bigger roles and assigned bigger challenges.

Politics will remain murky, it seems, but upright politicians like Omar Abdullah can ensure the spillover does not stink in the long run. One hopes.


Note: Some other highlights of the session were speeches of Rahul Gandhi, Lalu Yadav and AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi. We shall come back on these later.