Rising Communal Violence in IndiaFor Information on the Next Day's attack: Ahmedabad Attacks
Digg this Post
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
On Friday, at about 1:30PM IST serial blasts hit Bangalore, the Indian IT center. The blasts caused 2 fatalities and about 20 significant injuries. Bangalore is at the center of the Indian economic machine, and contains large amounts of foreign investment. The city is a notoriously soft target and violence is not uncommon. Initially, authorities blamed the Bangalore blasts on Islamic extremists/insurgents, but further examination shows that this is probably not the case. Terrorist attacks are designed for a shock factor, and have much more coordination and sophistication than was evident in Friday's attacks. The police chief mention that "local miscreants" could be involved in such an attack. Some have even alleged that opposition political parties may be implicated in this attack, in the hope that they would destabilize the new BJP, Hindu nationalist, government in the state.
To the international community, two deaths in a large city is meaningless. In all major cities many more people die in drug and gang related violence. But, this is a fundamental misunderstanding of the situation in India. Here are the insurgent forces at work in India:
- Islamic Extremism (From Pakistan and Bangladesh related to Kashmir occupation)
- Islamic Insurgency (Local, related to socio-religious strife)
- Naxalite Insurgency(Local, Maoist rebels wanting to overthrow the government)
- Separatist Sentiments(local groups wanting independence)
- Regional Political Violence(Politics and criminal groups are working together)
- Hindu Retaliation (Retaliation against Islamic groups)
We need to understand the kind of violence in India, is not like the drug violence on the US border. It can not be solved by more police officers or troops, but rather fundamental compromises within the political system. Unfortunately, over the last few years, communal violence in India seems to be on the rise. In fact, yesterday a grenade attack in Kashmir killed at least 9. There are also hundreds of undocumented Naxal incidents in the rural areas, since even the police are afraid to report these incidents. One would think that growth would drive the country towards resolving regional, social, and economic differences; but in India the political situation seems to be dire. The current government narrowly escaped a trust vote, and growth is falling due to a broader global economic slowdown. This coupled with a chronic insurgent violence makes a very deadly cocktail of instability.
The recent attacks on Bangalore have brought this instability closer to home. Almost half of India's IT industry is based in Bangalore and US companies are heavily(some would argue over) invested in this city. An major attack on infrastructure or the population would be severely detrimental to US interests in India. If Bangalore is locked down for two days, US corporations will start to feel the pain. Also, within hours of news of the attack, Sensex, India's leading stock index, took a nose dive. Communal violence is slowly but surely coming out of the shadows and showing its possible impact on the efforts of large multi-national corporations. For a multi-national it is too risky to build a manufacturing plant in rural areas due to the Leftist presence, and these companies may not be willing to put up with such instability and antagonism much longer. Even in Indian cities there is an anti-business/ anti-global sentiment, that alienates the very organizations that brought prosperity to the country.
You may be wondering why this is relevant to the United States. I believe, we the American people, have the right and ability to protect our economic livelihood abroad. Our government needs to put pressure on New Delhi to resolve their problems. India is indebted to American capital and investment, so as a country and a people they owe us the safety and security of our assets. To an American, it looks like India doesn't have the will to control their Leftists and Muslims. That attitude angers us because it shows ingratitude for the amount we have contributed to their economic growth. All George W. Bush has to do is to pull out of the nuclear deal, to shamefully dissolve the Indian Congress Party government. With this kind of power, we should protect our foreign interests, and ensure we are not losing our returns to pointless instability. The reason violence continues is that there are many political establishments that would benefit by the instability. If the people loose their cause, then these parties and institutions loose support. The present government relied on a loose irresponsible coalition of minorities and leftists for political gain. Now it proves that such a coalition is a barrier to progress and prosperity. Without our investment, their country would have remained a third world country forever. India needs to realize that their internal problems are not just internal in a global economy. What happens in their country affects us and what happens in the US affects them. Realizing this, the government must take an effort to ensure that multi-national's and industrial infrastructure are given appropriate security. Similarly the central government needs to take an active effort in solving communal violence, and pushing the country on the path of reconciliation. This violence will always be a barrier to growth, and the Indian people can not live like this for ever.
Related Posts
Watch South Asian Political Scene
Relevant External Links
Chronology of Recent Violence
Wikinews
Picture courtesy of Montreal Gazette
Flags courtesy of wikipedia commons
Picture courtesy of http://community.iexplore.com/photos/journal_photos/Bangalore_Microsoft_prefRes.jpg
28 comments:
Nice article
Good insight into the US reaction.
Who cares what the US thinks, we shouldn't sell out to these bullies.
Without our capital you would be nothing, without our nuke deal how do you expect to power your houses?
By burning bull shit?
They will be forced to use security forces to guard private businesses
I am astonished at the lack of coverage this story is getting. Bangalore is the center of US investment in India, we probably have more tied up there than in any other city in the world. If some thing happens to the confidence or the ability to do business there, we are directly effected.
Firstly, I would congratulate the author for bringing out a different or rather an American prespective on this whole issue. Presuming that the general American populace has somewhat similar kind of psyche in understanding this kind of situation, I would like to tell a few things.
1. Yes the analysis of the policto-social events sums up to what an average intelligent middle-class indian would think.
2. By the US investing heavily into other cities, economies, manpower....it is not doing it just for one and only purpose of uplifting the living standards there. That is not the only purpose. US means business when it invests here. They are heavily dependent on other economies, resources (knowledge or skills or raw materials) for their maintaining or uplifting their present state of living.
So, it is just business. I invest in you this much, you give me this much. Simple and fair too, in terms of business. Ofcourse, some in the US are concerned about the socio-economics of this country, but a handful, thats it. The question is, how much they can influence the US Federal Govt., in making policy decisions. Yes, but in the long run, we need to support this group.
3. Yes, we need to co-operate more and be more willed in executing the anti-terrorism laws. Also, as rightly pointed out, India needs to settle or make policy decissions to regulate and bring parity in the regional imbalances viz., language issue, caste issue, reservation issue, rural/urban divide. Unless it does so, there will not be any meaning in whatever headway it makes in growth. It will eventually lead to a bleeding society.
4. Nuclear issue - It is one thing, an average Indian would like not to be associated with US, probably due to the distrust which is caused because of past events, because the goals of US policy is finally to get one-upmanship, because there is a huge US business interest in it, or because we need to be self-sufficient, or maybe a few and all of these.
WRT US pulling the rug off the Nuclear deal, well, I guess it won't make a huge difference, at least for a longer term. Yes,short term wise, there will be scarcity for fuel to generate power; but in the long run, India, would have learnt to deal with the issue, either by self-improvisation in the nuclear tech or through other natural resources. As was the case, in the nuclear weapons tech embargo, we could go it alone and show it to the world that we can make a bomb and keep it safe too.
Probably, the author should remember that India is the only country in the world, in its whole history, it has not attacked anyone physically for economic or any other reason.
Really good article.
I'd really like to know how caste based affirmative action affects India's economy, and how that impacts the US, other investors.
The infrastructure also deserves analysis.
Where do you start with India's infrastructure?
In India the domestic (inter city) infrastructure is really bad.
All the big cities are building international airports but not improving their city roads and rails at the same time.
I am certain these attacks are internally waged due to the nuclear deal.
All that the US has to do is nullify the agreement for their own sake and we are back to square 1.
I really hope something is being done to protect the other cities. Hyderabad, Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai and so on.
We can't afford a meltdown in India.
As an Indian, I have been appalled at how terrorists are able to strike at will for decades now and have gotten away with it. The governments have hardly made meaningful headway in most of these cases. After anger subsides, we just sit back nodding our heads in disgust at 'Pakistan-backed terrorists'. Indian intelligence is pathetic and needs a major revamp. And, that will probably happen only because of pressure from the international community. So, though, this analysis reveals a blatant ignorance of the issues in India and talks as though the US has been doing a favor for India (it's pure business interest that has driven US companies to India- think of the millions of dollars that have been saved - the US economic scenario could have been much worse without all those savings - so there's no need to sermonize about it), I whole heartedly welcome such an initiative. International pressure on the Indian government to step up against terrorism would do India, the US and the global economy a lot of good in the long run.
Indians have this anathema towards change - they become complacent and tend to take 'as is' for granted. This has long been the bane of Indians. It required international pressure & the brink of bankruptcy to stir the Indian government to action in 1991, and if it requires international pressure again to stir them to think beyond the tainted politics, so be it. Though I don't agree with all the views, I welcome international pressure on the government.
ingratitude for the amount we have contributed to their economic growth - No conscientious person could have written that. Did our companies sink in billion in sub-Saharan Africa? We invest(ed) in India expecting something in return - a win-win for both. Having visited India a few times on business, I have been amazed at some things: Recent progress has happened despite an ineffective government, despite divisions in society, despite other negative influences. Also, unlike here, in India, extremists are meshed-in with the local populace - it's virtually impossible to isolate extremist elements. Also, we don't have a porous border with Pakistan. Having said that, of course, it's not an excuse for intelligence ineffectiveness. It does decrease confidence of investors like me. Our government must not just apply pressure on India, we should be with them wholeheartedly in their time of need.
I must congratulate the author of this article for having correct insight about the situation. I would like to add couple more thing that :
1. A hindu nationalist government in India is good not only for India but USA .
2. Present government is not just bunch of ordinary criminals but all hand in glove with Islamic fundamentalist and have deep nexus with likes of Bin Laden, Dawood et all. This explains why soon after acquiring power at center they repealed anti terrorism law like POTA framed by BJP government.
3. They have also cancelled all development and infrasturucture projects initiated by previous government.
4. But this was not sufficient, to weaken countries science , research activities they left no stone unturned by intoducing heavy caste and muslim reservations in top institutes like IIT, AIIMS and IIM, denying admission to thousands of meretorious and deserving candidates.
5. To appease muslim they are not introducing any population control measure so that they can overtake hindus and make this country an ISLAMIC country as soon as possible. In last 60 years muslim population witnessed 15 times increase fro 20 million to reach 300 million. but officially they dont declare it. and say muslims are hardly 200 million.
6. US should sign nuclear deal only when Indian government show evidence to implement population control policy like one child policy to all religion. My muslim friends in India usually have 10-20 kid in one family.
I do agree that the international or US Economy has allowed the Indian Govt. to be idiots all this time.
India's infrastructure is really bad I lived there for 14 years.
Indians are not interested in the country as a whole they are good, as long as they get their paycheck and go home.
The US just cannot be sending money into this region and hope money and time will solve these problems.
Its been 8 years since the 2000 bubble, action is necessary and now.
People that are bullish on India should re-assess their stance and rethink what is up with India
Instead of Iraq and Afghanisatan and Iran USA should attack India first to coorect these idiots, bastards, bull shits, hungry.
Dont worry, We will attack them very soon
This is a situation of govt not being responsible.
If you attack that won't do any good.
You have to force India to tread along a tight rope. By creating tougher laws.
If something like this happened USA tough laws made within months.
India had so many attacks in the last year.
Hyderabad, Jaipur, Bangalore, and now Ahmadabad.
Its kind of like a investment sanction, you don't make laws, strengthen the police we will not invest.
it is definitely an interesting perspective to the terror unleashed on india. but i have got to ask one thing though. if america is so much concerned about its business interests in india, why does it keep on pampering the rogue islamist nation of pakistan from where all the trouble in the region is coming from? latest news say that usa has decided to upgrade the F16s ordered by pakis. i am pretty sure that these will be used against india and not on the so called war against terror. i also recollect many instances of pakistanis diverting funds from usa to fund their own military ambitions and this has been mentioned in a number of congressional hearings as well. unless america unquivocally sides with india in this fight against terror, there is no way the indians can trust them blindly. we want america to have relations with us the same way they have with israel.
I think what happens India is not that big of a deal of USA.
It is what happens to US Businesses that counts.
I do understand the US-Pakistan relationships cause Indians to be skeptical of the US.
But still that doesn't mean India shouldn't be tough on terrorism.
Israel is a whole other story. Jewish lobby in the US is huge.
Also to refute your other point, America sent $30 Billion to Israel over the next 10 years.
If USA does that to India, Indians and the left will over throw the govt.
BTW, Israel gets direct aid, India gets jobs and money flow in the form of companies investing.
Despite India being a democracy, it is still a long way away from becoming a mature one. The executive, the legislature and the judiciary are good in pockets, but largely immature and have a long way to go. They need to rid themselves of corruption & nepotism. Having said that, our short-sited foreign policy and misplaced priorities have given birth to this Frankenstein called Islamic terrorism. In our war against the Commies, we indiscriminately funded the Islamists and now to our dismay, the dog(s) that we fed are turning back and biting us. We just overlooked the fact that the Islamist agenda had more against our way of life than the Commie agenda. Pakistan had a choice - it could have developed into a progressive and modern Islamic society like Turkey. But, aided by us, they chose not to. We have ended up pumping billions of dollars (and are still doing so) into a lost cause, not to mention, the thousands of our able young men coming back in bags. Well, not everything is lost yet. It is high time, we grouped like-minded countries (that includes Israel & India) into one common umbrella, isolated countries like Pakistan (mind my words, they are not our allies in our war against terrorism - they can never be, whatever we may like to think) and started thinking long-term in our foreign policy.
In the early 80s when Rajiv Gandhi was the PM, Israel had offered to join hands with India and nuke Pakistan. Think the Indians lost an opportunity to make South Asia terror free.
Great article. I also appreciate comments made regarding India still being an immature democracy. As an Indian, I feel ashamed and angry, but then it is the fact of the matter. Our forefathers had the foresight to keep the executive, legislature and the judiciary completely independent. Thankfully, for that reason, and also because the top people in all the three are mostly men of impeccable reputation & honesty, there is even a semblance of democracy. The bottom rungs of all these three arms are rotten to the core. Corruption is rampant and all prevalent. In this scenario, it is no surprise that terrorists strike at will and get away with it at will. If the government(s) show(s) the backbone to stand up to these mercenaries, it will send out strong messages both to the terrorist outfits as well as confidence to the business community. If it happens only due to US pressure, so be it. The ends would justify this. I wish the US acts fast, not only for its own benefit, but also for global benefit.
certainly not by burning truePatrots bullshit,
Nuclear power is only an option in India, and not the only source of power. India has Sufficient Reserves of Coal, Gas and Hydro power available To meet their Energy needs. of course, at the cost of increasing global warming and drowning most of Europe probably.
The only country in the world which meets most of its energy needs through nuclear power is France. America is Just about waking up to the fact of using Nuclear power.
America and George W Bush needs India just as much as India needs Them. After the mess that America Created in Afghanistan and in Pakistan by supporting Pro Islamic, Anti Indian regimes in Pakistan for decades, And an not too America Friendly China. America Needs an Buffer state to hold back the Islamists of their own making.
America and the rest of the world have invested in India not out of Charity, but out of the merit they have seen in this country after the economy has opened up to investments.
Maybe by these standards we should stop investing in Cambodia, Vietnam(communist), Peru, Columbia(Drug Wars), Mexico(Drugs again), Indonesia (Ethnic trouble) UK(lots of Muslims,mullahs, Indians, and a few car bombs and subway bombs), France (plenty of Muslims there too) America(9/11) Sri Lanka(plenty of tigers, the Tamil kind).
And what sickens me most are the comments of the American Cowboys who are getting their Backsides reamed in Iraq and Afghanistan(I wonder where is Donald Rumsfield nowadays?)
Dear ss,
What is "ss" your initials or Schutzstaffel?
Let's go through a little history lesson shall we?
In 1974, India tested their first nuclear bomb(A glorious event from your Indian perspective). But let us look at this through the American perspective, it was considered one of the most massive failures of the CIA ever. America gave the green light from common market countries to sell American nuclear reprocessing technology to India because we didn't want the poor little Indians to get poisoned. India (What you claim is a peace loving nation) uses our technology to make nuclear weapons. Is this what you call a responsible nation? What about signing the NPT, Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, Environmental treaties. Realize when you point one finger at us 3 fingers point back at you. If you want your violence to stop, stop fucking around with kashmir.
We need India only because we need Coding Coolies to do work that is too menial for our Engineers. If you have a problem with us, grow some balls and fight us... Maybe your big brother russia will come and save you. Remeber Diego Garcia is only 2 hours away...
TruePatriot doesn't speak for the real America.
I am the real America it is liberals and enemies of the state like you that dilute our true potential
why does india use western money through its tech industry to purchase weapons that they do not need? why create atmosphere where your source of income will be seen as a threat to other nationals?
Good day, sun shines!
There have were times of troubles when I didn't know about opportunities of getting high yields on investments. I was a dump and downright stupid person.
I have never imagined that there weren't any need in large initial investment.
Nowadays, I'm happy and lucky , I started take up real money.
It gets down to select a proper partner who utilizes your funds in a right way - that is incorporate it in real deals, parts and divides the profit with me.
You can get interested, if there are such firms? I have to answer the truth, YES, there are. Please get to know about one of them:
[url=http://theblogmoney.com] Online investment blog[/url]
Post a Comment