India's growth amid regional turbulence

Making India strong is not narrow jingoism. In reality India is surrounded by politically turbulent nations like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh.

The Taliban have already threatened to create problems in India. China has been building massive military infrastructures on Indo-China border and in the Indian ocean with long term objectives. While developing trade relationship with China, India should not forget the ‘Chinese bhai’ who turned foe in 1962 and grabbed part of Arunachal Pradesh. The Chinese display of massive military strength during the 60th birth anniversary of the Communist Party of China shows South East Asia heads for unipolarism.

USA’s dependence on Pakistan’s intelligence inputs to fight the Taliban has compelled USA to strengthen Pakistan’s military muscles, which has become the chief concern for India. Indian border states are highly infested with insurgency and cross border terrorism. The systematic and planned demographic change in Kashmir and bordering districts of North East India will force India to focus on its border policy.

Bangla threat

Assam’s former Governor Lt Gen S K Sinha in his letter to the President gave a clear picture of how Bangladeshi migrants emerged as a majority in bordering districts of Bangaladesh and would sooner or later demand merger of those districts with Bangladesh. In 45 Assembly constituencies and four Lok Sabha constituencies, Bangladeshi voters clearly influence the results.

The entry of huge quantity of Chinese arms in India shows all is not well in our border states. In 2006 and 2007, Indian security agencies seized nearly 4,000 small arms and light weapons in the North-East, Jammu and Kashmir — nearly half of which were China made.

The US Department Report on terrorism says 70,000 innocents civilians have been killed in Kashmir. More than five lakh Kashmiri natives have left their homes due to terrorism. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recognised Naxalism as no 1 internal security threat. The recent incidence of Maoist stopping the Rajdhani Express gives the message that Maoist can paralyse even train services at will.

Many analysts have found corruption has impoverished the tribal region and helps Maoists politicise poverty. India lost more senior army officers in fighting Maoists, insurgency and cross border terrorism than the number of senior officers killed in the three wars India fought. A group of boy terrorists entered Mumbai, stayed there for a month and successfully achieved their mission. The loss of precious lives of senior security and army personnel and hundreds of innocent people due to terrorist and Maoist attacks attributes to India’s delay in evolving a co-ordinated effort.

Terrorism of any form drains tax payers’ money, threatens livelihood, reduce productivity hours, triggers demographic change and weakens the nation within. There is no other option but to build a strong cohesive India.

Political inclusion

The nation’s first and foremost duty is to achieve political inclusion so that deserving people without political family background, money and muscles can aspire for political power. Lack of political inclusion is the reason why we don’t have true mass leader who can create one India feeling among Indians. Today, Indian political class have reversed Mahatma Gandhi’s struggle to eradicate caste system and cling to caste, language, religion and minoritism to win election.

A strong India is unimaginable without food sufficiency.   A nation cannot be strong when 50 per cent of its people are hungry, where 5,000 children below five year die every day due to minor diseases. One out of three women in India are underweight and India is home to half of the world’s illiterate people. India’s Human Development Index is as low as Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Botswana and Pakistan as per UNDP Report 2009.

With 20 agro ecological regions and 60 sub regions India can easily become food sufficient if it recognises its food storage in its rich biodiversity.  India must develop physical infrastructure for outdoor  games which will build the much needed stamina and courage among our youth.

Only morally and physically strong people can build strong army, ensure internal security, protect the old and the helpless people, provide good governance and increase productivity.