Repeated Terror Attacks: Reminder of Political System Failure

After a second blast within four months at Delhi High Court's gate in the national capital, the efficiency, alertness, and vigil of the Delhi police have come under question. The earlier blast had taken place near gate number seven. Nobody was killed or injured in it. But this time, the high intensity blast near gate number five where entry passes are issued, proved to be fatal for dozens of people. The fact is that there can neither be an actual estimation of the loss caused by this kind of blast due to security lapse, nor could it be compensated. Still, we cannot avoid questions that blast raises.
Self-Destructive for Entire Country
The link to this incident may also be established with some kind of domestic or international terrorism in the coming days, but is it a mere coincidence that when it is time to take the culprits of terrorist acts which directly challenged the sovereignty and power of the country to their logical end, politics is being played on the issue that is self-destructive for the entire country? Is the weak political leadership of the country responsible for these conditions? The country's domestic policy is already a victim of delusion, but who are they trying to harm by bringing the foreign policy also under its influence, knowingly or unknowingly? With which country among our neighbors -- Pakistan, China, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, are our policies in normal condition? Is all this not becoming the reason for deteriorating situations that are giving a challenge to the domestic front?
The present home minister and external affairs minister could agree that in Bangladesh's context, the consent or discord of any of our states does not have any impact on the foreign policy, but could we ignore Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Gujarat in Pakistan's context, or Tamil Nadu with regard to Sri Lanka? These double standards and insistence is not allowing our national political leadership to become strong.
Lesson From Past Experiences
The regret is also that we do not seem to be learning a lesson from our past experiences. Then, why do we expect this kind of lesson from Delhi police, which is nurtured on the game of politics at the center? But there is no hesitation in saying that the blast that took place at the gate of High Court situated within the circle of Delhi's political heart could have perhaps been prevented, had the police learned any lesson from the "big rehearsal of bomb blast" carried out by terrorists in the parking lot of gate number seven of High Court on 25 May. It is unfortunate that the incident was forgotten saying that the bomb was planted to target a particular person.
Police have their limitations in any political system. Our police force is not like London or Scotland Yard police, neither in skills, nor from the viewpoint of resources. Parliament is in session. The entire Delhi remains on "high alert" during this period. Then, how could this blast take place just a few kilometers from the Parliament House? But it would not be right to call it mere carelessness of police or security agencies. In fact, it is a failure of our politically-administered system.

Bangladesh Rejects Indian Proposal for Exporting Natural Gas

Bangladesh has turned down an Indian proposal for exporting natural gas to that country. Indian Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde placed the proposal on 15 September 2011 during his visit to Dhaka to join a meeting of the (South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) energy ministers. Dhaka did not respond positively to the proposal.
Growing Problems
In this regard, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Mohammad Enamul Haque said Bangladesh was unable to export gas at this moment because of deficit of the energy in the country. At a news conferee on the evening of 15 September 2011 the state minister said Bangladesh will export gas to foreign countries in future subject to availability of the energy.
It has been learnt that the two countries a meeting discussed 250-MW electricity from India. In this regard, the sate minister electricity from India could be received from India in due course of time as per the commitment of New Delhi. He said the media report published on the complexities regarding construction of joint gridline between Bangladesh and India was not completely right. But he admitted that some problems were created over acquiring lands for the gridline at a number of places in the Indian state of West Bengal. He said that Bangladesh had the similar problem.
At this moment Power Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said electricity from India could be availed from in India on time. He said the problem created in the West Bengal will not hamper the project. Because, a minor section of the gridline will be required to be built on the India side while rest was in existence from earlier.
SAARC Energy Ministers’ Meeting
Moreover, the two-day meeting of the SAARC energy ministers ended at Rupashi Bangla Hotel in Dhaka on the same day through the concluding ceremony. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the concluding session. Power ministers from five countries and 35 represetatives attended the meeting.
The SAARC member countries at the meeting reached a consensus on singing power deals among the countries. In addition, the meeting adopted a survey on attaining energy security in the South Asia.
Presenting the detailed outcome of the meeting at a news conference in the evening, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources State Minister Mohammad Enamul Haque said the SAARC countries will sing a power exchange agreement within the next year (2012). The meeting decided to elicit opinion on the draft agreement until 31 October 2011.
Regional and Energy Trade Survey
He further said the meeting adopted the SAARC Regional and Energy Trade Survey. The survey recommended guidelines on production and trade in the power and energy sector of the SAARC countries. An analysis of the survey shows that the committee of experts has stressed the need for signing a framework agreement for enhancing capacity in the power and energy sector of the SAARC countries.
The experts believe such a framework agreement will benefit every member state. They also put emphasis on regional trade and legal compulsion.
Energy Security System
The survey shows the yearly demand for fuel oil by the SAARC member countries is increasing by 5 percent while for gas by 6.34 percent. The per hour demand for electricity the SAARC countries by 2020 will increase to 2920693 KW.
A source with the meeting said the member countries are in a state worry over the present quantity fuel for power generation. And as a result, they put stress on building an energy security system through mutual cooperation.
According to the survey, the Maldives is ahead of all the member countries in the commercial use of energy. The next positions go to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Afghanistan at the last.
The survey report says the SAARC countries have their peculiarities in the use of energy. But India and Pakistan are dependent on more than one source of energy. The rest countries have unilateral source. The survey stressed the need for diversifying the use of energy in those countries.
The state minister at the press conference said the SAARC countries at the meeting agreed to carryout survey on inter-grid power exchange. Besides, Bangladesh at the meeting placed a proposal for forming a SAARC Energy Regulatory Commission.

India's Arms Collection

The father of the nation had said, "An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind." All respect and honor to the Mahatma in its place, but as far as his teachings are concerned we can fill our ears with them. It is a pity that the reality is very different from what he said and in the 21st century the entire world seems to be preparing for war and is stockpiling weapons. The situation in India seems to be no different from this.

Since the country's independence, it has had the reputation of a peace-loving and humanity sympathetic nation, which it has maintained.

Solving World Problems

For solving world problems, India has maintained its reputation as heading the list of non-aligned nations. Even today the country maintains its reputation for brotherhood and peace-loving country. This is a praiseworthy characteristic of India. It has always been desirous of solving its problems peacefully. This is one side of the picture which is extremely pleasing. But its other side is a cause of worry for peace-loving sympathizers. This is that India heads the list of countries in arms purchasing, according to the list of arms purchased released by an organization from Stockholm.

After intensive research, between 2006 and 2010, India has left the rest of the world far behind in arms purchases. China which used to head the list for the past four years has been relegated to second place in arms purchasing , while North Korea has gone to the third place and Pakistan fourth.

Requirement for Self-Relianc

There is no denying that with neighbors like Pakistan and China with which India has border disputes effect bilateral relations from time to time. There is always the danger of war erupting with them. It is very important for India to maintain constant vigil and remain prepared constantly. Because of this, the country keeps on buying weapons. This is the first requirement for self-reliance but to keep on constantly buying weapons is hardly a solution. The country will have to seriously reconsider this problem, especially with those countries with which it has disputes.

It is essential to stay on constant alert and is a prime necessity of self-reliance. But for this, it is not necessary to buy weapons all the time. Before going any further, it may be noted that for 2011 and 2012 the amounts set aside for defense is trillions of dollars. Ordinary citizens will not be able to tell how many Rupees are in $100 million. Like the people who can find love, there are very few who can figure this out. Keep in mind that every citizen is an equal participant in this.

Improving Infrastructure

On one side, this an expense more or less in billions, and on the other, this is a bitter reality which cannot be denied. For example India has one-third of the poor people in this world which means that every third poor man in this world is an Indian. In diet deficiency, India comes after Bangladesh. This is the reason that 3,707 million die of malnourishment. Thirty-five percent of India's our population is unemployed. Very few get clean water to drink. This is the reason that 37.7 die million is no small number. Over 200,000 succumb to malaria every year.

According to some sources, 20 million with higher education are unemployed. To improve the infrastructure how many areas are to be improved? All dangers that are facing the country have to be faced which we are doing in a half-hearted manner. If it was not for defense we could have reached a stage of development and we could have taken the next step toward empowering the people's lives.

Government Waking Up To Problem of Illegal Immigrants

After illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, the government has finally woken up from its stupor, though belatedly, about Tibetan refugees. The alert sounded to different departments in Delhi by the government proves that it has also finally realized this problem.

During the past few years, the number of illegal immigrants-refugees has increased dangerously, not only in Delhi but also in the entire country. The capital is already struggling with the challenge of rapidly growing population of people coming from different states of the country. On top of that, illegal immigrants and refugees have worsened the situation.

Regrettable Aspect
There was need to rein this in quite early, but unfortunately, it was not taken seriously. Even now, instead of taking tough steps and stopping their growing numbers, the government has only issued instructions to prevent them from taking advantage of the facilities that are given to the country's citizens. The regrettable aspect of it is the acquiring of different identity cards by several refugees-immigrants, hoodwinking the law.

What should have happened is that the police administration and intelligence agencies should not only have kept a record of all foreigners, but should have also been aware of their activities. But that did not happen. Foreigners not only got assimilated with local people here, but also acquired several facilities. This is the reason why officers are now checking the records of all suspicious people, including Tibetan refugees. This clearly means that officers also feel that there has been some mistake somewhere at the departmental level. This is a fact, and also the root cause of the problem.

The Interferences
Politics and political interference could also be unquestionably held responsible for the uncontrollably growing population of foreign refugees and acquiring all civilian facilities. Let us hope that though belatedly, the government would now take this matter seriously, and officers and politicians would also discharge their duties honestly, understanding the gravity of the problem and take a meaningful initiative to resolve the issue.