India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Members of the Indian community at large here are deeply concerned over threat to the life of LK Advani and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi from the fundamentalist and militant quarters in India with links to a neighboring country.

They have made a strong pitch to the Indian government not to take lightly this threat and act firmly against terror groups without narrow political considerations. A kingpin of the terror group in Pakistan is alleged to be involved with in the plot.

Prof. Ghanshyam Pandey, noted Indian American scientist with the University of Illinois in Chicago was categorical in his assertions that terrorism of all sorts should be curbed. "In this county, agencies like Homeland Security, CIA, FBI take preventive measures and seek to nab the terrorists in their dens. The Indian government should not wait till they strike. Prevention is better than reaction. We have to prevent rather than be happy in reacting, "he said.

Touching upon the Afzal case, he mentioned that the government should not seek to interfere with the judicial process or decision. The government is reported to be stalling the Court judgment. This encourages terrorists to do what they want feeling that ultimately they may get a reprieve.

Prof. Pandey also said that Indian Americans should be harnessing their connections with US politicians and lawmakers to impress upon them that India is facing grave threat from terrorists, as this country does, and that both the governments should act in unison in meeting this threat.

"The public at large and lawmakers should be told that threat from terrorists will hurt democratic India and in turn, the entire free world. The US should extend all help to the Indian government in meeting this threat," he said.In this connection, he mentioned that organizations like AIA and FIA should be meeting and talking to the politicians as a collective approach would be more appealing than individual representations.

Dr Sudhir Parikh, a winner of PBS and Ellis Awards from New Jersey, was vehement in his assertion that terrorism in India should not be treated as an isolated event in the global perspective. Western countries as well as other nations too face terrorist threats and this global phenomenon must be dealt with firmly and globally.

He pointed out that the NRIs have been doing their part in awakening the Americans here about cross border terrorism faced by India and a seminar was held three months ago in New York with prominent US political figures and mainstream members of the society present. India and US should closely work with each and network with other countries too in meeting this threat to world peace. Indian government should stop infiltration of terrorists from neighboring countries and should develop zero tolerance to violence and killing from militants. They should not be allowed to succeed in their game of intimidation and spreading fear.

Dr Dayal Meshri, a globally famous research scientist from Oklahoma, said in response to a question, that India has always been a target of terrorists. The US saw the violent face of terrorism only on 9/11, that historic day which would go down in the history as one of the most savage. That day not only US came alive to the carnage of terrorism but almost the entire world understood it. Western society, including leaders like President Clinton were blissfully ignorant of the twisted minds of the terrorists, for whom nothing mattered but their blind and misconceived beliefs.

He felt that only a determined United Nations Organization, with help of the comity of member nations, could find ways to stop the terrorists from further endangering the world communities. A UN-led international force as well as economic sanctions strictly enforced could bring the brazen minds of the terrorists to their knees. Every nation, which is supporting and giving sanctuary to terrorists, must be punished so that they don't get any weapons of destruction.

All supply routes must be quarantined, he argued.A consortium of all nations only is the answer to stop the barbarism of the terrorists. Government of India must seek the help of Israel to thwart the designs of these enemies of peace and progress. "Do what Israel does," he emphasized. "Because nothing is more important than the safety and security of the people and it is the duty of every nation to protect the innocent and provide peaceful environment for them to live." He advocated.

Dr Bharat Barai, a leading community activist from Indiana, felt that the existing protective measures currently in force must be further strengthened to cover all political and religious leaders irrespective of their party affiliations in true spirit of democracy. The terrorists stay hidden and taking advantage of the open accessibility of democratic society, conspire and attack thereby subverting political institutions and causing harm to a harmonious environment.

Under the circumstances, however unpalatable, government needs to reduce the accessibility to all local and national leaders of importance, and take recourse to modern technological communications. Last week Narendra Modi talked to Indian Americans making use of these modern tools.It is also important to use POTA so that the terrorists can be detained as soon the signs of trouble are noticed. The Government should keep party politics away and protect all-important leaders, Dr Barai urged.

He noted that as soon as soon as it assumed power in New Delhi, the UPA Government abolished POTA and all the anti-national and terrorist groups became active in India. The Government, instead should further strengthen all the intelligence agencies and reintroduce POTA so that lives and properties of people in the country are protected, rather than condemning the actions after the event. And in most of the cases, the government has been releasing criminals instead of punishing them to avoid recurrence.

NRIs in USA are playing their role in an exemplary way, but the real issue is how the Government of India would change its tactics to fight the menace of terrorism to protect the interests of the people rather than theorizing on issues on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, he observed. Further, he agreed that world opinion is against terrorism with some exceptions. Pakistan is an example of the rhetoric of fight against terrorism and tacit support to all elements of terrorists within is own territory. This has caused the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

On the one hand the government of Pakistan condemns terrorism and on the other, that country is the largest source of terrorism - a virtual haven for weapons, training and transportation throughout the world. He hoped that this double standard would stop. He said the NRIs are in the fore-front on all important issues concerning the community here as well back in India. He felt the existing protective measures currently in force must be further strengthened to cover all political and religious leaders irrespective of their party affiliations, in true spirit of democracy.


Syed Rashid, a Muslim businessman in Chicago said that India is a thriving democracy and even Imran Khan, the noted cricketer from Pakistan, pitched for the Pakistan government to follow the Indian lead. There have been at least 12 general elections in India and the governments got changed and the power transferred peacefully. That means that the elections were fair and free.In this situation, it is unbecoming for any group to effect change through terror, threats and violence. All right minded Indians whether Hindu, Muslims, Sikh or Christians would condemn such threats. If there are differences with the Indian leaders or parties they can be ironed out in a democratic way. It is the politicians who create divisions among communities and this practice needs to be discouraged, he added.

Naren Patel, a well known businessman and the newly elect president of AIA, was very critical of the actions of Government of India, which in a recent case let the criminal walk out of death sentence. Is this justice, he Asked. This kind of bleeding heart liberalism, however noble was nothing but counter productive and criminal abutment of a heinous act.He said that the selfishness and clinging to power by any means had become more important to the politicians than serving the people and development of the county.

Winning elections therefore has become the theme of their political philosophy. "These are the moments when our memory goes back to the golden period of Indian history, with giants like Vallabhbhai Patel, and one wonders how the situation would have been different if we had a leader of their kind living and guiding the country," Naren Patel lamented.About the role of NRIs he reflected the general consensus that they were discharging their duties admirably.

Madhu Patel, chairman of NRI Press club in a statement said that the Indian government should lay down a pre-condition that Dawood Ibrahim be arrested and sent to India before starting any so called peace dialogue. "It is this guy who is behind a lot of terrorist activities in our country and event the US administration has named him as a terrorist," he said. Modi has endeared himself among Gujaratis across the world through his remarkably strong and vibrant leadership, and has won a thumping majority in the recently held Statewide elections. Vested political interests and select religious groups, just for criticism sake, have singled him out and this has been one of the main factors behind recent threats, Madhu said.

"Today, terrorism is only talked about if it affects the Western interests but if Modi and Advani are targeted, interestingly it is not news worthy and no actions would be contemplated. Also, why is the Interpol not making Pakistan hand over the freely roaming 11 terrorists involved in the hijacking Air India plane, he asked.

Inder Mohan Singh, a TV programs producer reiterated the general opinion that ensuring safety and security of its people is the most important function of a government and the government of India must direct all its attention to fulfilling this obligation.The media and the intelligence agencies of the government must be more vigilant to safeguard the interests of the people. Media can play a very significant role in spreading the message of unity among all sections of the people and create awareness of the dangers by the terrorist outlets and exposing them before they strike. He further suggested that as highly successful NRIs, "We must work with the US Senators and Congressmen to help India fight this menace, as US is troubled as much by terrorism as is India.

"Shahid Rizvi, president of Urdu Academy of America, said that unless India and Pakistan come to the negotiation table and try to resolve their problems through friendship, it is hard to contain the cross border terrorism. Goodwill always existed between the people of these countries, virtually because of common language, literature, culture food and habits. Pakistan must evolve into a democracy like India so that prospects of peace and unity can emerge. India must help Pakistan to achieve this goal.All efforts for normalization of relations between Pakistan and India lie with Pakistan.

It must realize that it must stop supporting terrorist groups in Pakistan. Rather than promoting Mafioso like Dawood Ibrahim to create destabilization of India by assassinations of important leaders of India, Pakistan must bring him to justice. NRIs have already worked with the US Government representatives and officials to bring about improvements in mutual relations. Cold war tensions no more prevail in Indo US relations mainly because of the manifold contributions of the NRIs to the development of their adopted country.

Sohan Joshi, a prominent tax consultant and former chief of FIA, said that it is a shame that the government cows down before terrorist threats and urged the opposition leaders to call off their march. "It is surprising that a foreign born leader could roam freely in the country while Bharatiyas have to get their movement curbed. It is surprising that the so called leaders like Mamata Banerjee and Lalu Prasad could talk any thing that they want while others have their freedom of speech curbed. This should not happen in India that is Bharat," he said.

He further said that if the government is not in a position to act effectively against terrorists, it should resign and surrender its power to the people who would elect a new strong government. "We the people will initiate Andolan against the government, if it proves ineffective against violence perpetrated by militants and terrorists," he declared.