The Politics of Terrorism

“Terrorism is not an expression of rage. Terrorism is a political weapon. Remove a government’s facade of infallibility, and you remove its people’s faith.”

-Dan Brown, ‘Angels and Demons’

A two-year old girl dies in a terrorist attack in Varanasi, the latest bomb-blast claimed by the banned terrorist outfit Indian Mujahedeen, leaving several others injured. Before she could even learn whether to open her hands to offer namaz or to fold her hands to offer prayers to a Hindu God, she became the victim of the aftermath of the court’s verdict on the ever-disputed Ayodhya land; her fault being a ‘normal’ citizen of the country caught in the power battle between the government and terrorists. 

We say terrorism is an act of cowardice, which it certainly is. But why does the cowardice reek of defiance, of an open challenge thrown at our faces that seems to say- “There, we did it again and we don’t care a rat’s tail how it affects you since anyway there ain’t much you can do about it”? As much as the government would have us believe that all security measures are in place, this recent incident at a place as public as the banks of Ganga makes one question the veracity of the statement. It is not just about a lax government, it is also about an alarmingly unaware and shockingly uncaring public opinion. When something like this happens, we are stirred, yes. For two days. It is touching indeed to see people gathered with candles in their hands to commemorate the anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks; but my question is, doesn’t it spoil the entire purpose of not following in the trap? The Prime Minister appeals to the public to “maintain peace and calm”. Well, Sir, help create a situation of calmness first and then ask us to maintain it. We would be more than glad to help you, help ourselves. It is not as if our government sleeps while attacks happen all over the country. Off course they spring into action and depute their most trusted and reputed team to safeguard the public interest. And they do it right after another attack.

The government is only too pleased when the public itself holds these marches and ceremonies to display solidarity with the families of and in the memory of the deceased, it takes the burden away from them and the fingers pointed at them are diverted by this sentimental display. Meanwhile, they resort to their trademark quality exclusive to them: the blame-game. Right after a terrorist attack, there is a huge public outcry. The government appeals for calm. Opposition parties cry foul. Investigation speeds up. People calm down- and everything is back to square one. It’s a vicious circle. It is a completely different matter altogether that in the midst of this circle are trapped millions of innocent people who have placed faith in their government because it has promised them electricity in their villages and bridges in their cities. Ah, the promise that a promise holds!

Going back to what Dan Brown said, we have to stop terrorism from becoming a political tool before going into the dynamics of finding out why terrorism is such a ‘terror’ in the first place. The fault lies with us, with the two-faced government, with the double-edged sword of politics. Look thyself into your own mirror, before demanding someone else’s reality.