BY SPEEDPOST ACK. DUE: MEMORANDUM
D.C. Nath, IPS (Retd.) 204 Munirka Enclave,
President New Delhi-110067.
Patriots’ Forum Tel: 011 - 26169423
Mobile: 9811995693
www.patriotsforum.org
dcnath@patriotsforum.org
Dated December 3, 2008
To,
Dr. Manmohan Singh,
Honourable Prime Minister of India,
South Block,
New Delhi – 110011
Subject: Forestalling and tackling terrorism in our country.
Sir,
Patriots’ Forum is a registered, non-political, voluntary group comprising largely retired civil servants, defence personnel, social scientists, academicians and public individuals. Our main concern is cohesion and health of our Nation State.
2. Like many others in our country, we are taken aback and outraged by the horrible carnage at Mumbai wrought by determined and extremely well-planned and executed act of mass terrorism against innocent population. While we applaud the great courage and professional confrontation of the well-organised terrorists by our defence, special police and other authorities, we are appalled by the number of terrorists involved, the complexity and the length of the operations found necessary to put an end to this greatest terrorist challenge to India’s nationhood.
3. In this Memorandum, we lay out some issues which we feel require immediate consideration, followed by suggestions for concerted and time-bound action by the Central and the State governments.
4. It is indeed a matter of great consternation to us how, despite warnings, our internal and external intelligence and the State police agencies were totally unaware of what so many terrorists seemed to have been doing collectively for many days in Mumbai, near the Gateway of India and more specifically how they had collected so much of ammunition and weapons inside the Taj Hotel and elsewhere. Today, Mumbai and Delhi happen to be the two most terror-bombed cities in the world. How did the Mumbai police forget that Mumbai continues to remain on the radar of jihadis, hellbent on destroying the Indian nation, especially with so much input, as known publicly now, from different concerned agencies? Why were not then any demonstrative and effective steps taken to protect the city and its inhabitants?
5. We feel that time has come to enforce the principle of accountability by taking action against all those responsible for this national shame! Common man often wonders why there is no principle of accountability in the government - be at the political or bureaucratic level. The buck must not stop only at the police or intelligence level. The civil/bureaucratic authority in charge of coordinating governmental efforts should also be held equally accountable. How long can the citizens suffer such serious administrative lapses and crass irresponsibility? If this is not done, the general public will lose whatever little respect, faith and confidence they still retain for the political and administrative leadership in the country, which is, above all, responsible of the safety of the people. Such loss of public confidence will embolden terrorists waiting in the wings and will make the future task of governance more difficult.
6. What happened over the recent three or four days in Mumbai should set at rest once and for all any doubt or difference of opinion among political parties about the ruthlessness of the jihadi forces outside and inside our country. What happened in Mumbai is not merely a reckless action by some “mad and misguided” youth who did not understand what their religion taught them. It should be clearly understood that their main objective was not merely to settle some communal and religious scores or to bring fear in the minds of the masses at large but to destroy the heritage and traditions of our society, destroy its self-confidence and take control of the society. It is in this context that a well articulated, unambiguous, easily understood and transparent doctrine of national security in all its aspects must be worked out placed in the public domain and made known to the citizens.
7. Sir, how could you only now, i.e., in November, 2008, decide to task the National Security Adviser to formulate within 100 days a national security plan? Did not that constitute an integral responsibility assigned to the NSA as part of the charter of his duty several years ago? As concerned citizens, we have a right to know why it was not done all these years.
8. The impression the present government at the Centre has given to the people at large is that it has not squarely accepted its fundamental Constitutional responsibility to defend its people against determined aggression from outside and threats from within the country, on the specious ground that law and order is a state subject. Most citizens are not convinced of the argument of the Central Government that a federal anti-terror agency cannot be set up because some States are against it; nor do we think that for such an agency to be set up unilaterally by the Central Government, a Constitutional amendment is required. You are surely aware that the Supreme Court has unequivocally held that terrorism is an act of aggression against the country and cannot be treated as a law and order issue. We, therefore, urge that the matter should be got reviewed by eminent experts outside the Government. Our understanding is that within the existing Constitutional framework, such an agency can be set up, provided there is political will and maturity. Have not the State governments been listening to and following the guidelines sent from time to time by the Intelligence Bureau in respect of VIP security? What makes the Central Government feel that the directions issued by it for protection of citizens will not be adhered to by States governments? Under the concept of a federal Republic, the Centre cannot abdicate its responsibility for governing the States.
9. Pending the result of the foregoing legal review and the larger study mentioned in the following paragraph, and without waiting for them, the Government of India should immediately identify some of the glaring inadequacies, such as, lack of adequate surveillance of coastal waters, land borders and air-space. The government must ensure appropriate access control of as many public places as possible of high sensitivity, visibility and use. Establishments, such as, refineries, power-plants, hotels, railway stations, offices, business offices, must compulsorily introduce state-of-the-art technology in respect of baggage-screening, access-control and the like. Enough expertise in these areas is available in the private sector. In each State, an identified minimum of intelligence staff for these purposes must be established and clearly tasked.
10. There is an intense feeling among citizens that the Maharashtra government did not perform even the minimal due diligence drill in the light of hellish experience of umpteen terrorist strikes suffered by Mumbaikars in recent years. For instance, why could not an Emergency Response Force, comprising trained commandos, be organized and positioned to meet the diabolical jihadi challenge? Prima facie sheer lack of will and kowtowing to vote-bank politics are responsible for the failure of the powers-that-be to prepare in advance and adequately to tackle the menace of jihadi terror. The public surely has the right to seek answers to these questions regarding the monumental failure of the government to protect the human lives and valuable property, that dealt a serious body blow to the pride and prestige of our one billion strong nation.
11. It is well known that the intelligence agencies and other security forces have been suffering from serious handicaps for a number of years. Why the long-felt need for augmenting their manpower and resources is being considered only now? Why could it not be done much earlier? There appears to be a total lack of accountability in the government in this respect. The people of the country have a right to demand urgent and suitable action against all responsible for such serious lapses.
12. None of the foregoing needs to wait for a detailed multi-agency study of the recent tragedy so as to ascertain how:
· it became possible;
· how it was executed so successfully by the terrorists;
· how it could have been forestalled;
· what clarifications in policy are required;
· what strengthening of security apparatus is required in terms of human intelligence, specialised high-tech equipment, special forces and their training, post-event operational efficiency and effectiveness etc.
Such a multi-agency Experts Committee, comprising innovative and competent persons, should be instituted immediately to undertake such a study. It must be given a clearly understood mandate, and a definite time-frame to complete its work. We consider that, if headed by a committed and competent retired public servant with wide experience in administrative, police, defence and national security matters, such a study can be completed in 6 months’ time. Its recommendations, except those for high national security aspects, must be made public and should be implemented by an empowered multi-agency task-force, with an allocated budget for the purpose. Our Forum places its services for this cause, if called upon.
13. In our considered view, such a study should not be entrusted to any Judicial Commission (our history of judicial enquiries is dismal) or to any group of ministers and politicians. It should be by a committee of experts with wide-ranging experience. The Forum will urge upon you to look for experts outside the fold of the government also.
14. A nation which aspires to play a global role in international security, large geo-political matters and which seeks to sit at the UN Security Council table as a permanent member will have credibility in the international eye only if it has a government which is known for its competence, resoluteness and efficiency to tackle the problem of its own internal security. The political will required for the purpose will have to transcend narrow sectarian considerations of electoral politics of the day. This has to be demonstrated to instill enough confidence among the members of the public.
15. Sir, the Forum urges you to get these issues sincerely debated at the appropriate level, have the accountability fixed and early steps taken to remedy the situation.
We shall be happy to know our submission has reached your hand.
Yours faithfully,
(D.C. Nath)
Copy forwarded for information and action, as deemed fit, to:
i) Shri P.C Chidambaram, Home Minister.
ii) Shri A.K. Antony, Defence Minister.
iii) Shri Pranab Mukherjee External Affairs Minister
iv) Shri M.K. Narayanan National Security Adviser
v) Chief Ministers of States/Union Territories
(D.C. Nath)
Dr. Manmohan Singh,
Honourable Prime Minister of India,
South Block,
New Delhi – 110011
Subject: Forestalling and tackling terrorism in our country.
Sir,
Patriots’ Forum is a registered, non-political, voluntary group comprising largely retired civil servants, defence personnel, social scientists, academicians and public individuals. Our main concern is cohesion and health of our Nation State.
2. Like many others in our country, we are taken aback and outraged by the horrible carnage at Mumbai wrought by determined and extremely well-planned and executed act of mass terrorism against innocent population. While we applaud the great courage and professional confrontation of the well-organised terrorists by our defence, special police and other authorities, we are appalled by the number of terrorists involved, the complexity and the length of the operations found necessary to put an end to this greatest terrorist challenge to India’s nationhood.
3. In this Memorandum, we lay out some issues which we feel require immediate consideration, followed by suggestions for concerted and time-bound action by the Central and the State governments.
4. It is indeed a matter of great consternation to us how, despite warnings, our internal and external intelligence and the State police agencies were totally unaware of what so many terrorists seemed to have been doing collectively for many days in Mumbai, near the Gateway of India and more specifically how they had collected so much of ammunition and weapons inside the Taj Hotel and elsewhere. Today, Mumbai and Delhi happen to be the two most terror-bombed cities in the world. How did the Mumbai police forget that Mumbai continues to remain on the radar of jihadis, hellbent on destroying the Indian nation, especially with so much input, as known publicly now, from different concerned agencies? Why were not then any demonstrative and effective steps taken to protect the city and its inhabitants?
5. We feel that time has come to enforce the principle of accountability by taking action against all those responsible for this national shame! Common man often wonders why there is no principle of accountability in the government - be at the political or bureaucratic level. The buck must not stop only at the police or intelligence level. The civil/bureaucratic authority in charge of coordinating governmental efforts should also be held equally accountable. How long can the citizens suffer such serious administrative lapses and crass irresponsibility? If this is not done, the general public will lose whatever little respect, faith and confidence they still retain for the political and administrative leadership in the country, which is, above all, responsible of the safety of the people. Such loss of public confidence will embolden terrorists waiting in the wings and will make the future task of governance more difficult.
6. What happened over the recent three or four days in Mumbai should set at rest once and for all any doubt or difference of opinion among political parties about the ruthlessness of the jihadi forces outside and inside our country. What happened in Mumbai is not merely a reckless action by some “mad and misguided” youth who did not understand what their religion taught them. It should be clearly understood that their main objective was not merely to settle some communal and religious scores or to bring fear in the minds of the masses at large but to destroy the heritage and traditions of our society, destroy its self-confidence and take control of the society. It is in this context that a well articulated, unambiguous, easily understood and transparent doctrine of national security in all its aspects must be worked out placed in the public domain and made known to the citizens.
7. Sir, how could you only now, i.e., in November, 2008, decide to task the National Security Adviser to formulate within 100 days a national security plan? Did not that constitute an integral responsibility assigned to the NSA as part of the charter of his duty several years ago? As concerned citizens, we have a right to know why it was not done all these years.
8. The impression the present government at the Centre has given to the people at large is that it has not squarely accepted its fundamental Constitutional responsibility to defend its people against determined aggression from outside and threats from within the country, on the specious ground that law and order is a state subject. Most citizens are not convinced of the argument of the Central Government that a federal anti-terror agency cannot be set up because some States are against it; nor do we think that for such an agency to be set up unilaterally by the Central Government, a Constitutional amendment is required. You are surely aware that the Supreme Court has unequivocally held that terrorism is an act of aggression against the country and cannot be treated as a law and order issue. We, therefore, urge that the matter should be got reviewed by eminent experts outside the Government. Our understanding is that within the existing Constitutional framework, such an agency can be set up, provided there is political will and maturity. Have not the State governments been listening to and following the guidelines sent from time to time by the Intelligence Bureau in respect of VIP security? What makes the Central Government feel that the directions issued by it for protection of citizens will not be adhered to by States governments? Under the concept of a federal Republic, the Centre cannot abdicate its responsibility for governing the States.
9. Pending the result of the foregoing legal review and the larger study mentioned in the following paragraph, and without waiting for them, the Government of India should immediately identify some of the glaring inadequacies, such as, lack of adequate surveillance of coastal waters, land borders and air-space. The government must ensure appropriate access control of as many public places as possible of high sensitivity, visibility and use. Establishments, such as, refineries, power-plants, hotels, railway stations, offices, business offices, must compulsorily introduce state-of-the-art technology in respect of baggage-screening, access-control and the like. Enough expertise in these areas is available in the private sector. In each State, an identified minimum of intelligence staff for these purposes must be established and clearly tasked.
10. There is an intense feeling among citizens that the Maharashtra government did not perform even the minimal due diligence drill in the light of hellish experience of umpteen terrorist strikes suffered by Mumbaikars in recent years. For instance, why could not an Emergency Response Force, comprising trained commandos, be organized and positioned to meet the diabolical jihadi challenge? Prima facie sheer lack of will and kowtowing to vote-bank politics are responsible for the failure of the powers-that-be to prepare in advance and adequately to tackle the menace of jihadi terror. The public surely has the right to seek answers to these questions regarding the monumental failure of the government to protect the human lives and valuable property, that dealt a serious body blow to the pride and prestige of our one billion strong nation.
11. It is well known that the intelligence agencies and other security forces have been suffering from serious handicaps for a number of years. Why the long-felt need for augmenting their manpower and resources is being considered only now? Why could it not be done much earlier? There appears to be a total lack of accountability in the government in this respect. The people of the country have a right to demand urgent and suitable action against all responsible for such serious lapses.
12. None of the foregoing needs to wait for a detailed multi-agency study of the recent tragedy so as to ascertain how:
· it became possible;
· how it was executed so successfully by the terrorists;
· how it could have been forestalled;
· what clarifications in policy are required;
· what strengthening of security apparatus is required in terms of human intelligence, specialised high-tech equipment, special forces and their training, post-event operational efficiency and effectiveness etc.
Such a multi-agency Experts Committee, comprising innovative and competent persons, should be instituted immediately to undertake such a study. It must be given a clearly understood mandate, and a definite time-frame to complete its work. We consider that, if headed by a committed and competent retired public servant with wide experience in administrative, police, defence and national security matters, such a study can be completed in 6 months’ time. Its recommendations, except those for high national security aspects, must be made public and should be implemented by an empowered multi-agency task-force, with an allocated budget for the purpose. Our Forum places its services for this cause, if called upon.
13. In our considered view, such a study should not be entrusted to any Judicial Commission (our history of judicial enquiries is dismal) or to any group of ministers and politicians. It should be by a committee of experts with wide-ranging experience. The Forum will urge upon you to look for experts outside the fold of the government also.
14. A nation which aspires to play a global role in international security, large geo-political matters and which seeks to sit at the UN Security Council table as a permanent member will have credibility in the international eye only if it has a government which is known for its competence, resoluteness and efficiency to tackle the problem of its own internal security. The political will required for the purpose will have to transcend narrow sectarian considerations of electoral politics of the day. This has to be demonstrated to instill enough confidence among the members of the public.
15. Sir, the Forum urges you to get these issues sincerely debated at the appropriate level, have the accountability fixed and early steps taken to remedy the situation.
We shall be happy to know our submission has reached your hand.
Yours faithfully,
(D.C. Nath)
Copy forwarded for information and action, as deemed fit, to:
i) Shri P.C Chidambaram, Home Minister.
ii) Shri A.K. Antony, Defence Minister.
iii) Shri Pranab Mukherjee External Affairs Minister
iv) Shri M.K. Narayanan National Security Adviser
v) Chief Ministers of States/Union Territories
(D.C. Nath)
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