Syed Ali Akhtar for BeyondHeadlines
Since Independence, India is facing Terrorism in one or other form and is struggling to deal with it. Many efforts have been made to counter terrorism but only thing we have achieved so far in this direction is a chain of counter terrorism agencies.
From states to Center we have a full fledged chain of counter terror agencies to deal with terrorism. But this chain of forming different anti-terror and investigating agencies without knowing the root cause of disturbance is not a healthy sign for the largest democratic country of the world.Setting up of Agencies and Bureaus and their independent functioning is in questions since their inception. Without knowing the results, creation of next agency like National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) is a big question in terms of burden of exchequer on National Economy inviting opposition from the heads of the States.
It should be noted that Less than three years after the 9/11 attacks on United States they formed National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC). The US NCTC, for instance, integrates all foreign and domestic analysis to produce detailed assessments designed to support senior policymakers, Intelligence, SIGINT, ELINT, TECHINT, Defense, Homeland Security, and Foreign Affairs Communities. Besides this, the US NCTC conducts strategic operational planning for counter terrorism activities, integrate all instruments of national power including diplomatic, budget, military, intelligence, and law enforcement to ensure unity of effort. This is a tough task and sounds difficult even in theory.
In India, NIA, a federal agency was created after Nov 2008 Mumbai terrorattacks as a need for the central agency to combat terrorism across states without requiring special permission from the States. We hurriedly established the NIA in order to check the terror activities. Although this organisation was in no way going to stop terror attacks which is evident from the recent attack on an Israeili Diplomat in broad day light.The Israeili investigating team with Delhi Police could not achieve any success to book the culprits. Iran Government and Hizbollah have already denied their any role of the incident and condemned the attack.
Likewise, terror attack on Mumbai in March 1993 it took us 17 years to think of setting up a similar centre. During these 17 years we went through a series of internationally organised high profile terror attacks.Whatever, for the sake of an effective counter terrorism mechanism, it is important that the body should also focus on naxalism and other forms of terror which is a much bigger threat to India. Now creating a seperate center to counter terrorismis without taking states on board is a violation of federal structure.
So far, the ideas behind making these centres failed to deliver goods as the concept may not be implemented properly in a right direction.Whatever, the States and the Central Government must plan together in an honest manner and do not allow factional and dirty politics to hijack national security. Forming of agencies after agencies or Bureau is not a solution to deal with terrorism and naxalism.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect BH’s editorial policy.
