There was the pleasant element of consensus at the chief ministers’ conference on the issue of security because it came after a rancorous debate on the issue of soaring food prices.
Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, who railed at the UPA government on food prices, was full of admiration for prime minister Manmohan Singh and home minister P Chidambaram on the security question. Modi’s response is not a barometer of any kind for what the Central government does but it does indicate that divisions tend to melt away in the face of common danger. As a matter of fact, there should have been consensus on the food issue as well but partisan politics seems to have got the better of all the participants. Singh talked of infiltration into Jammu & Kashmir and Chidambaram underlined the persisting threat from the ‘dark forces’ of terrorism. It is not surprising that there is unanimity on fighting terrorism which threatens the unity of the country. This was more than showing a mailed fist to the enemies and detractors.
There are nuances in the government’s perception of security which need to be noted and appreciated. Earlier, Singh and Chidambaram spoke of the Maoists and the terrorists in the same breath and made it appear that the Left radicals were not very different from Pakistan-based Islamist terrorists. This time round, there was pointed reference to the terrorist groups across the border and this was recognised as a clear external threat. This is a positive view because the battle with Maoists is very different in nature and magnitude compared to that with outside elements. It needs to be reiterated that Singh and Chidambaram are ideological foes of leftist adventurism.
The other aspect of the new approach on security is the fact that the government has decided to hold talks with Pakistan. It seems that the Singh government has realised that India has to fight terrorism on its own and that it should not hinge on talks with Pakistan. The two approaches — fighting terrorism and talking to Pakistan — will have to run on parallel tracks.
It is not however sufficient to express determination to tackle
terrorists. There is need for a nuanced strategy as well and there does not seem to be any clear position on that score. Wars, covert and overt, are won as much through clear thinking as through effective use of force.
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