Andhra PradeshSAMACHAR

Andhra PradeshSAMACHAR

DAILY NEWSOrganize by SAMACHARA BHARATI (AP Vishwa Samvad Kendra)Email : samaachaarabhaarati@yahoo.com, vskap1@gmail.com२०

January 09
Biggest terror threat is from Maoists
Express News Service First Published : 20 Jan 2009 08:23:22 AM ISTLast Updated : 20 Jan 2009 03:24:01 PM ISTHYDERABAD: Why has terrorism become such an overarching concern in recent times when the probability of being hit by lightning is greater than dying in a terror attack? The remark was made by director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Santosh Mehra in his keynote address at the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (FAPCCI) panel discussion on `Current Economic and Security Scenario and Investor Confidence'.Presenting more statistics, he said the number of people dying in road accidents in India in one year was higher than the 70,000 people killed in terrorist violence in the last 30 years. "The issue of Islamic fundamentalism is very small compared to internal terror threats. In fact, the biggest terrorist threat to India is from the Maoist Communist Centre,'' said the ACB director. Mincing no words, he said tackling terror required strong anti-terror laws. "Since police confessions are not admissible in Indian courts, how can we ask Pakistan to accept Ajmal Qasab's statements as proof,'' queried Santosh Mehra. However, he did concede that certain police confessions were extracted in a questionable manner. Going further, he said what India lacked was the will to take action. He said Israel's actions in Gaza were possible only because a majority of the Israelis approved of them, unlike in India where "there was no consensus on strikes against Pakistan''.Illustrating the impact of terrorist attacks on economic activity, Santosh Mehra said the 9/11 attacks had cost America a trillion dollars. Terror attacks, like those in Mumbai, make international investors wary of parking their investments there. The police is poorly equipped to deal with such attacks. Other speakers agreed with the sentiment that India had to show a strong political will and project economic and military power. Ajay Gandhi, a Chartered Accountant, said the Mumbai terror attacks and the Satyam scam pointed to a systematic weakness. "There will be more Mumbais and more Satyams unless we mend the system,'' said Gandhi. Citizens could take a strong stand to push the political class into taking action, he opined. However, other speakers expressed confidence in India's business climate despite the recent setbacks. Meera Lal, who teaches at Osmania University's Institute of Public Enterprise, said India's fundamentals were strong and added that "one Satyam wouldn't deter investors''. Former FAPCCI president B G Shastry said only strong political leadership could set the course for a strong country. From THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS, 20, January 2009