Let's unite to eradicate terrorism

A reverberating blast near the Red Fort metro station in Delhi has shocked the country, claiming 13 lives and seriously injuring more than 20 people. The attacks targeting lives of innocent people are extremely condemnable and heinous. Where victims are just numbers and headlines for media, they were source of hope for their families. It is the responsibility of governments to take precautions and steps to prevent such inhumane incidents from recurring. Prime Minister Modi stated in Bhutan that all those responsible for the blast will be brought to justice. Home Minister Amit Shah said that alongside the Delhi Police, the NSG and the NIA have taken up the investigation. The opposition's demand to include in the purview of investigation why similar security lapses keep happening is also important. Even after the Pulwama incident, the government is unable to prevent terrorist attacks in which ordinary people are victims. Police, examining CCTV footage, have confirmed a car carrying ammonium nitrate entered Delhi from Haryana via the Badarpur border and roamed the city for several hours. If it were true, the Home Minister must take responsibility for this huge security lapse. The government's failure to ensure the safety of the people should not be downplayed as intelligence lapses or official negligence.

However no official confirm is made, media reports citing investigation officers say that the attack was carried out by a doctor from Pulwama district backed by the terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed. Many doubts including why a street in Old Delhi was chosen for the suicide attack on the day before the second phase of Bihar elections need to be answered. Only a transparent and detailed investigation will bring out the motives and interests of the attack. That will take time. Unfortunately, as usual, before the facts come out, the flames of hatred is spreading faster than the explosion. The media needs to be vigilant in ensuring the information is honest and factual, although they come belatedly. Only then will the civil society, realizing the value of wisdom, face issues maturely. By killing innocent people, the divisive forces aim to create instability in the country and division among the people. Media platforms should not degenerate into sycophantic podiums for them. Social media notes should not be imbecile responses favouring them. The spread of lies in another sense is also part of a plan to destabilize the country. Only a people who realize that the unity of the society is the best defense against terrorism can defeat all terrorism permanently. A divided society is doomed to fail.

Many studies have observed that terrorist attacks in India often occur at times when the government is in crisis. Many 'encounter killings' and 'terrorist attacks' were conveniently timed to help electoral victories and cover up major corruption. The overzealous official and political interventions to cover up security lapses in terrorism cases often lead to hunting down innocent people. Innumerable examples can be cited of innocent people, who have nothing to do with attacks, sacrificing several decades of their lives in prisons. Many cases eventually get shrouded in mystery without truth ever coming out. However, the main reason for terrorist attacks in India is the shadow wars planned in Pakistan. The lives of the innocent people is the price being paid for the political rivalry between India and Pakistan. Be it soldiers guarding the border or ordinary people living inside the country. The only solution to permanently settle the issue of terrorism is to bring peace in the region of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. A permanent solution to the problem of terrorism lies in the understanding that the issue of terrorism in India is political not religious and the conflicts between neighbours can be resolved through political solutions and the path of coexistence. Let us unite as one nation and as a national conscience to eradicate terrorism through the path of peace and humanity.