India is an easy target for terrorists

Indian Express Posted: Dec 07, 2008 at 1308 hrs IST.
Kiran Bedi has said that India is a soft target for terrorists and that the 'neighbours' are aware of it.
Mumbai: Accusing the political class of holding on to the reins of control of the police force, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi has said the country is a soft target for terrorists and that the 'neighbours' are aware of it.

"Our system is old and medieval and the neighbours know this. We have not let the police system become professional and fully accountable because politicians and bureaucrats want to retain control," the first woman IPS officer said.

"Professionalising the police means true rule of law - a police fully accountable to law and no one else," Bedi said.

On the recent Terror attack on Mumbai, Bedi said, "All those who had access to information, be it politicans, bureaucrats, law enforcement agencies and police among others should be held responsible for the attack."

"Breach in accountability ought to have meant dismissals and not mere transfers or suspensions. And later, reinstatements," she added.

Calling for sweeping changes in the archaic criminal legal system, Bedi said citizens should play an active role in demanding changes and seeking accountability.

"Our laws have never been known to keep pace with ground needs. We still have the Police Act of 1861, Prison Act of 1894 and the Indian Penal Code, also of the same vintage.

Our elected representatives accuse each other but do not legislate. They have failed us on this completely," she said.

"We all have to wake up and shake off the slumber or else we will be victimised more and more. And the invisibles will continue to get away," Bedi said.

The problem cannot be solved by rolling heads of politicians, Bedi said adding, "It requires a major shift in the way we administer policing...its processes and its resources, the way we govern, coordinate and deliver...the sense of urgency with which we treat police and justice issues, laws and resources."

Lack of manpower, technology and little coordination are a few reasons for lapses in security, the Magsaysay Award winner said.

"Where are the men and resources even for normal day-to-day policing? Ordinary crimes are not registered for want of manpower. Mobility is weak. Use of IT is low. And coordination almost negligible," Bedi said.
India is an easy target for terroists: Kiran Bedi

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Who else can be more competent than Kiran Bedi as advisor to the Home Minister? She is best cop in the world. Kiran Bedi is the only one capable of reducing terror to a zero in the Nation. Will the Politicians repose trust in her like the common people- a million dollar question?

Firing from the other man's shoulder?

Dear Fauji Friends,

Last week Maj Gen Joshi called on me. He was an esteemed instructor during our Degree Course days, and EME officers would remember him as one of our finest engineers. Indeed, he spent most of his time with the DRDO. He was commissioned in Jun 1960 and was in the Eastern sector during the 1962 debacle. He has analyzed the event very systematically, and his study reveals the following :

Pt Nehru, the architect of modern India suffered a severe stroke of depression from which he never quite recovered. He died in May 1964 at the comparatively young age of 73.

VK Krishna Menon was removed from the post of Raksha Mantri for his incorrect assessment of the situation.

Gen Thapar, the COAS was sacked. The careers of Lt Gen Kaul and scores of other military officers took a "U" turn.

A few thousand soldiers died; many more were wounded and some were taken prisoners.

The psyche of the country received a severe blow. It was considered a 'National Shame'

The question he asked me was, "Who was the Defence Secretary? And what was the punishment meted out to him?" I have asked several friends and also surfed the Internet but I am unable to find an answer. In all probability nothing was done to him, because he had no role in this!

Gen Joshi then took this discussion a step further. He observed that during the recent attack on Mumbai, dozens of soldiers and policemen have been killed. The whole nation is shaken. Mr Shivraj Patil has lost his prestigious job. The CM of Maharashtra has been axed and several heads in the government are likely to roll. Can some one tell us as to what action has been taken against the Union Home Secretary or the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra? (Thomas tells me that they will all be "promoted" soon though he does not know why).

Having spent many years in and around the South Block, I marvel at the way our government has been structured. The Civil Servants rule the roost. In terms of promotions and status they are ahead of every one else by miles. They are central in the Pay Commission and the Cabinet Secretary is involved in every major decision making process. Yet, when things go wrong, they wash their hands off so clean that one wonders how!

A slightly closer examination reveals the secret. I have figured it out this way:

They never do anything themselves. They always find some one else to be the head, and they know how to reduce him to be a 'figure head'. (In the Pay Commissions, they have a retired Judge). However they place themselves in a spot which has the maximum opportunity to influence matters.

After the event, they never face the Press or the Media. Their role is amorphous.

The senior amongst them rarely sign a letter or order. Our pension letter is signed by a Director, who is not directly recruited IAS officer. Only rarely do you find a paper signed by a Joint Secretary. Officers above that level do not sign any document.

They have a strong association. It protects the interests of its members dutifully and diligently.

So we have our Defence headquarters in which the postings, promotions, rewards and punishments of all senior officers are controlled by the civil servants; and they also have the final say in the process of procurement of weapons and eqpt, but they are not "responsible" if things go wrong! It is authority without responsibility. (For those who may not know, a lowly officer in the MoD can have a Deputy Chief posted out, but a Service Chief can not get even a Desk Officer moved)

When Gen Joshi left, I found myself perplexed. What sort of system have we evolved? And how has it survived all these years? It is a bit like a unit in which the clerks are running the unit and the CO is so dependent on the Head Clerk that he can not move without their help!

Can someone give a cogent answer to the questions raised by Gen Joshi?

Regards,
Maj Gen Surjit Singh (Retd)

PS: Politicians wear the dress of the people they represent, to identify themselves with the masses. Soldiers and Policemen wear uniforms. Can some one tell what the Civil Servants wear? The answer came from the wag who said, "Civil servants wear thick skins".
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Public Accountability

Height of Prophesy
Winston Churchill had the following outburst on the eve of independence of India...
"Power will go to the hands of rascals, rogues and freebooters. All Indian leaders will be of low calibre and men of straw. They will have sweet tongues and silly hearts. They will fight amongst themselves for power and India will be lost in political squabbles".

It has proven to be even worse than his prediction. May we, the people unite and start taking those rascals and rogues to task...
Jai Hind!
Col RP Chaturvedi (Retd)

Retired general chosen Veterans Affairs minister in Obama cabinet
US president-elect Barack Obama has chosen retired general Eric K Shinseki to be the next Veterans Affairs secretary, turning to a former Army chief of staff once vilified by the Bush administration for questioning its Iraq war strategy.

Shinseki is a recipient of two Purple Hearts for life-threatening injuries in Vietnam.

Upon leaving his post in June 2003, Shinseki in his farewell speech sternly warned against arrogance in leadership.

"You must love those you lead before you can be an effective leader," he said. "You can certainly command without that sense of commitment, but you cannot lead without it. And without leadership, command is a hollow experience, a vacuum often filled with mistrust and arrogance."

Shinseki also left with the warning: "Beware a 12-division strategy for a 10-division army".
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Question: Can we not have an Ex- Serviceman or Soldier to head the ESM Welfare Deptt in the MoD? Do civil servants have the competence to comprehend the burning issues beseeching the ESM fraternity?