[Assam] “The ULFA has been conceded its unreformed intransigence on ‘sovereignty’ ”. Is it the PM of India or the EGoM who conceded to the ULFA’s demand on the restoration of Sovereignty of Assam? Elaboration is crucial in resolving the Indo-Assam conflict.

[Bartta Bistar]

*Gunning for ideas*

* *

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEJ20060906054214&Title=Second+Editorial&rLink=0
Wednesday September 6 2006 16:03 IST

*Internal security needs cohesion & leadership*

An empowered group of ministers (EGoM) meeting at regular intervals to
jointly monitor the spread of Naxalism, is a sound idea which must be
promptly put to work.

For far too long, states have insisted on dealing with this security
challenge in ways that do not add up to a consistent strategy.

That law and order is a state subject is glibly invoked as excuse to shirk
the rigours of an integrated approach to an all-India problem.

So Manmohan Singh's meeting with chief ministers on Tuesday was a
significant moment. As the state flails about for a response to the security
and terror threat, lurching from a self-induced policy paralysis to a
heavy-handed community-based profiling, it provided an occasion for the
nation to hear its prime minister speak on a shared spectre.

Such occasions must become more frequent. Especially because the UPA has
laid itself open to charges of fuzziness in its response to the national
security threat. It was under the UPA that the government tried to talk to
Naxalites even though they brandished arms at the talks table.

The ULFA has been conceded its unreformed intransigence on 'sovereignty'. At
other times the government has sounded eager to pander to vote bank
politics, at the risk of seeming unconvincing in its resolve to deal with
terror.

Manmohan Singh struck all the right notes on Tuesday as he emphasised the
need to firm up intelligence gathering while remaining sensitive to the
special fears of minorities. True, we need to draft both the beat-constable
into the anti-terror strategy as well as ensure that the people become
"counter-terrorist wardens''.

When mistakes are made by the state, there must be instant remedy. But most
crucial of all is consistent political leadership. It was of course right
and proper that the home minister, the nodal minister in this case, was
asked to head the EGoM.

But it is equally right and proper to ask why is it that the national
security advisor appears so much more engaged and active on internal
security than his ministerial counterparts.
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