Parties silent on terror threats

Hyderabad

March 25: The terror attacks that killed 60 persons during the rule of the Congress government do not figure among the electoral issues taken up by parties.
Four major blasts including a suicide bombing took place in Hyderabad highlighting the loopholes in the security system.
Though law and order and security are state subjects, none of the major political parties have taken up the issue of terrorism or have announced steps to curb it.
Neither the Congress manifesto nor the Praja Rajyam draft manifesto has mentioned it and the Telugu Desam leaders have not been referring to terror attacks during their election speeches.
Welfare schemes and health and educational reforms are at the top the agenda of the political parties.
The Congress, for instance, has spoken about food security but didn’t bother to speak about law and order or protection from terror attacks.
Though the BJP said it was for Surkashandhrapradesh”, its leaders too have not mentioned terror attacks and have only spoken in passing about their promise to bring back POTA.
Experts say after September 11 attacks, terrorism was the key issue in the United States elections.
“Terrorism is the biggest national security threat today in the country and both the ruling party and opposition parties have to discuss it,” said Mr B. Raman, a former official of the Research and Analysis Wing. “In India there is no discussion on terrorism or counter terrorism strategies. Politicians know that voters have short memory and they are not going to lose anything by ignoring the subject of terrorism.”
Mr Raman added that it was for the people and non governmental organisations to raise the subject.
The bomb blast that shook Macca Masjid on May 18, 2007, killed nine persons and in the following police firing, five persons were killed.
The Union home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, himself had said that the case has turned cold.
In the twin blasts on August 2007 at Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat, 42 persons were killed and several were injured. In suicide bombing at Task Force office one person was killed in 2005.
“Parties should not politicise the terrorism issue but they should not ignore it either,” said a senior police officer. “They should discuss it objectively and assure steps for the security and safety of the people.”