Monday, 27th August 2007. Two days after the incident, Telangana Rashtra Samithi MLA Nayini Narsimha Reddy, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajashekhar Reddy, Home Minister K. Jana Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee President Dr. K. Keshava Rao share an ROTFL moment. [via acorn]So, how are we doing since the blast?
Most politicians interviewed after the blast said that we do not need a tough terror law. They reminded us that even when POTA was in effect, we suffered terror attacks while simultaneously emphasizing the need for quick implementation of the Sachar committee recommendations.
Apparently there were lots of warnings about a possible attack on the city. The following report may offer some clues as to why no action was taken:
Police sources told TOI that in the last six months or so, the intelligence agencies were instructed to step up vigilance on the opposition political parties, especially the Telugu Desam, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi and the Left parties. [..] According to the sources, with both general and assembly elections due in 2009, the political bosses have instructed the intelligence department to assess the political strength and poll preparedness of the TDP, TRS and the two Left parties. [link]Using Government resources for political campaign is not new in India. But this takes it to a new low (or should we say high?).
Sadly, a POTA-less regime is proving to be no less potent in its potential for human rights violations.
Levelling allegations that about 50 Muslim youth were picked up by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the past five days, Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee (CLMC), India, on Tuesday put out names of 22 youth who were allegedly taken into custody by police.This clearly runs counter to the popular opinions about POTA. You see, human rights violations in a semi-fascist country like India is generally a function of political will and the need of the hour. Add a little economics and human nature. With POTA, the cops could hold the most suspicious dudes for extended periods of time. Without POTA, they must cast their nets extremely wide in the hope of finding that odd little bit of evidence. Also, under tremendous pressure, the police will be forced to not report many detainees simply because they are in violation.
"They are being tortured by police in torture cells in areas like Shamshabad, Uppal and Ramanthapur. Our sources said these interrogations are being carried out in resorts and hotels,'' Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee general secretary Lateef Mohd Khan said at a press conference here on Tuesday.
Khan said riots had broken out in the Old City in 1990 due to internal differences in Congress party. "Now, the blasts could have happened because of the same reason," he alleged. [link]
POTA is one instance of BJP's shortsightedness. They should have reenacted TADA by calling it TADA-II. Think about the implications.
If all this does not make sense, don't worry about it. Just order Hyderabadi Biriyani next time you go out for dinner.
1 comment:
Anonymous Bloop
Hideous. It is shocking to witness political leaders' complete disinterest and apathy towards terrorism in the neighbourhood.
Have not they watched the NDTV coverage on the victims & their families post twin blasts?it's agonising to watch mothers crying, uncontrollably, over the loss of their precious children.some were preparing for GRE, GMAT for further studies abroad,a few were almost like right hand to their parents and were on the verge of taking upon the family responsibilities.who will fill in the gaps?mothers pleaded the political leaders to wake up and do something about such acts of terrorism.when will these cries for justice fall on deaf ears of our so called leaders?
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