Apology is fine but...

This is a fine gesture from the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that he apologised to the nation for the government's inability to prevent the Mumbai attacks. In the same vein, Mr. Singh vowed to gear up the security system to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future in addition to building pressure on Pakistan to end the scourge. Albeit it seems his apology sounds coming from his heart, continued firmness from his persona is required not only in enhancing the security system in the country but also tackling the menace of internal problem, i.e. rampant corruption within the system that allows anti-national elements sneaking into the places where guard is kept on a regular basis. This trend is all the more dangerous, as anyone, by just paying some hefty sum, could infiltrate any organisation, institutions, premises and persons to undertake brutal assault.

The Indian Prime Minister has work on two levels: on the policy level, Dr. Singh faces the challenges of aggressive diplomatic efforts so that he would be successful in cornering Pakistan into a position that it can stop exporting terrorists to the Indian Territory. The UN sanction against Pakistani outfits like Let and Jamat-u-Dawah is one victory of sort, but that is not a grantee that our neighbour will stop creating explosions on Indian soil. More consistent and patient efforts are needed to convince international community about the evil designs and threats of non-state actors that Pakistan President, Asif Ali Zardari calls. So far, the PM gives the impression that he is going tough, which is what is needed if Indian needs to secure its lands and its people from constant scourge of terror like the one we have seen in Mumbai last month. Dr. Singh, as they say, is too gentleman a person, that he should not be a politician.

Second is dealing, with equal emphasis, with his colleagues and the system in the governance that can be no less than a hard nut to crack. As for the surety that no lapses from the part of intelligence failure, or coordination between the various agencies will occur in future, the PM needs to put accountability into the persona of his minister, bureaucrats, and officials. This is a tough task. In fact, is tougher than pursuing a belligerent foreign policy. Though officials need to a take leaf out of PM’s apologetic remarks, it can be a avowed atonement if India goes on ensure that, like the US, this country will not witness any more terror attack in future.

Apology can be genuine only if the PM considers terror attacks as the top priority since no development, no progress, no economic growth can be of any value if the country loses its image and its prestige. Certainly, the PM this time seems more firm since India’s credibility having a sound system and rule of law has got a beating. It takes years to build an image, which is at stake as vulnerability is obviously clear. Initiative of creating a National Investigation Agency is one good step towards a concrete solution in our fight against terror.

Apology can bear positive results only when the PM is able to uproot what he called in the Lok Sabha "the epicentre of terrorism" and ensure complete annihilation of terror infrastructure in the neighbouring country. Like the PM, people will not tolerate mere ‘assurances’ any more as he said in the context of Pakistan’s response. Well, we can not take his words that Indian has maintained "utmost restraint" so far that should "not be misconstrued as a sign of our weakness", much needed on this front. And how does Dr. Singh do in the next few months, only time will tell. Meanwhile, though war seems not at the imminent agenda, the PM must turn his apology into a compact anti-terror strategy to defeat the entities, organisations, and countries to ensure safety of the country.

We all revere his apology as a sincere call of the conscience, but demand that the PM must put security reforms, like the economic reforms of 1990s, in the plate, including how to handle anti-national elements residing outside the country.