Tackling Terrorism

                    
                    Terror and terrorism is perhaps the most widely used in today's world. While there's actually no single definition of what "terrorism" means and still there are many, and often, they're incompatible. One most appropriate being and used by law enforcement agencies is : "Terrorism is the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives."  
.                   
                     Trying to intimidate and subjugate people and government by group of people through force is terrorism and religious fervor attached to it is the new phenomenon terrorizing humanity in today's era. The unfortunate truth staring mankind is the overzealous vociferous religious bigots(although in minority) prevalent in all religions today. These minority religious fanatics are boisterous and get emboldened due to indifference of silent majority.

                     These religious extremists aren't confined to one religious group marking there presence in almost all religious groups. Atrocities by extremists Buddhists elements in Burma have made life miserable for Rohingya Muslims, similar stories emerged from Sri lanka where religious minorities were persecuted by extremist Buddhists. Terrorizing Hindu and Sikh communities in USA, Europe ,Australia by Christian bigots doesn't raises eyebrows anymore, vandalism of temples and gurudwara isn't rare. Religious tensions fomented by Hindu and Muslim radicals and resulting riots is an interminable process in some parts of India. All these riots uproot inhabitants and causes friction in the overall mindset of population besides causing irreparable loss to life and property.

      The biggest threat to humanity in 21st century is emanating from religious extremism and the biggest organized extremists groups have emerged from Islamic radical groups. These Islamic extremist groups have pan-Islamic ambitions and are incredibly brutal in action .These Islamic fundamentalist groups earlier operated from different Islamic nations and are very well funded but now have established there own country by occupying vast territory between Iraq and Syria. Islamic fundamentalists have ambitions of uniting all muslim countries to form a caliphate initially and then subjugating the world through intimidation and convert the world to Islam. 

   These Islamic radicals believe in the ultra orthodox interpretation of Koran and justify its implementation through violence. These groups gets fundings and unending stream of volunteers to fight for ignominious cause of there from different sources. Moving on from video and audio cassettes, DVDs today internet has become the most efficient tool for Islamic terrorists for propaganda and publicity. The optimal use of internet by glorifying there abominable acts helps terrorists in alluring gullible people to there ranks. The Internet has arguably replaced the role of the printed media in the field of terrorism, terrorists can take whatever message and images they decide to straight to the online targeted audience, which is global in reach. Internet has become a potent tool for incitement to commit acts of terrorism, radicalization and recruitment of terrorists. Lately terrorists use the Internet ranging from psychological warfare and propaganda to highly instrumental uses such as fundraising, recruitment, data mining, and coordination of actions.

                    Another tool to further there propaganda by Islamic terrorists is media coverage. In this time and age of 24*7 media coverage Islamic terror groups have successfully exploited it to hilt. They have successfully publicized their political causes, inform both friends and foes about the motives for terrorist deeds, and play victim thus explaining their rationale for resorting to violence. Media has worked as a tool by terrorists to legitimize there ideology create an atmosphere of fear and suspicion, legitimize their acts, and reach greater audiences. Ayman al-Zawahiri, the current leader of al-Qaeda, argues that “[al-Qaeda is] in a battle, and more than half of this battle is taking place in the battlefield of the media. [Al-Qaeda is] in a media battle for the hearts and minds of the ummah”.

                  Lone wolf Islamic terror attacks is another byproduct of radicalizing through cyberspace . Most of these Islamic terrorists who operate independently are self radicalized through internet propaganda machinery of Islamic radical groups. Their barbaric acts could have been planned in a single day, have no past history of violence and thus difficult to detect yet they have an impact that provokes as much publicity and fear as any terrorist act around the world. The Islamic terrorist organization that recruits lone terrorists through the Internet are the most difficult and dangerous to confront and only by preaching tolerance such self radicalized terrorist violence can be reduced.

 

                    The key to defeating terrorism is prompt action by international community by solving the societal and political failures in terror infested countries. It's equally important to destroy the well oiled propaganda machinery by constant coordinated action to thwart attempts to enroll new recruits by terrorists.The financiers of terror groups are equally dangerous and steps should be taken to throttle finances of terrorists. Terrorism is aggression against society and harsh punishment should be handed over to perpetrators of heinous crime. It will act as deterrent for those who harm innocent people or threaten to destabilize the foundation of society.Equal emphasis should be given on reforming education in madrasa. More skill & modern knowledge should be imparted besides religious knowledge to pupils for better job prospects. Economic disparity creates a fertile ground among young restless population towards victimhood and thus enticed towards extremism hence a comprehensive pro active military, political, financial  and reformist strategy is necessary to combat scourge of terrorism erupting around the world.

                    

Scourge Of Islamic Terror

                         

                         
                         It is safe to assume that religion is as old as human civilization. All religions preach peace and peaceful coexistence with other faiths yet religious fanaticism isn't a new phenomenon and prevalent for ages, for centuries people have fought among themselves to stamp the supremacy of there religion . The unholy mix of religion and politics makes it a formidable force effectively used by elites to conquer and control vast territories and further there influence in the name of religion. The acrimony towards "other" religious faiths and hankering for religious supremacy led to numerous despicable wars throughout human history. The supremacism is inherent in almost all religions, Christian supremacism motivated crusaders to wage wars for "holy land" ,similarly Muslim supremacists unleashed wars to project there religious supremacy. Human race has paid a heavy price to this mindless acts of violence perpetuated for generations.
                     
                        With emergence of secular,plural societies, people became tolerant and inclusive in there approach towards religious beliefs of other people. With time,societies learnt to keep politics and religion at distance and people learnt to be tolerant towards religious beliefs of others , more secular societies emerged and religious fanaticism is kept at bay in most of the modern free societies of world, barring middle east and few other countries. In plural societies, civil liberties irrespective of religious beliefs of inhabitants ensured freedom of press, religion, expression,assembly, the right to security and liberty, freedom of speech, the right to privacy, the right to equal treatment under the law among other things. In the secular democratic societies, the mixing of political and religious ideology is heavily criticized by electorate and is governed by rule of law.

                       Such plural,open and free societies flourished around the world but the biggest threat to such a framework is now emanating from Islamic bigots. It is estimated that 1.6 billion or 23 per cent of the world's population is Muslim, out of these roughly 15% to 25% of  1.6 billion Muslim population are estimated to be radicals. These radicals believe in the implementation of medieval radical form of Islam all over the world, use of violence is legitimate in there eyes as they believe its there pious duty to spread Islam. These radicals reject secular laws and societies as unholy thus qualified for conversion. They loath and ban teaching of arts, music, history, literature etc. subjugation of women, stoning of apostates, homosexuals, levying jizya on religious minorities are among other things justified. The destruction of Bamiyan Buddha in Afghanistan, archaeological sites in Iraq and Syria corroborates there thinking and approach towards vulnerable cultural heritage.

                                                  Bamiyan Buddha Statute, Afghanistan 

                      The biggest problem with Islamic terrorism is there interpretation of religious texts and justifying there numbing acts of violence against defenseless civilians. With the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 a new form of warriors ( mujahideen) and "jihad" against infidel soviet army came into prominence.The defeat of Soviet army gave tremendous militarily and psychological  boost to new kind of political islam emanating from the barrel of gun. This new breed of triumphant warriors believed in ultra orthodox form of political Islam that reached its zenith during this era attracting gullible Muslim youths from across the globe. The defeat of Soviet army by Afghani mujahideen encouraged and incited new kind of terror groups funded and abated by rogue nations like Pakistan to further there influence in neighborhood. These terror groups get tacit support, funding and unending surge of brainwashed youths from countless madarsas sprung across such rouge nations.

             

      For decades countries like Israel ,India etc faced the brunt of ignominious acts of violence perpetuated by Islamic terrorists but gradually these terror fanatics turned there attention inwards towards different sects of Islam. Broadly Islam has two sects Sunni and Shia, Saudi Arab is the leader of Sunni bloc and Iran heads Shia block. Support and funding of Wahabbi Islam by Saudi Arab is responsible for most of violence perpetrated by terrorists, it is an austere form of Islam that insists on a literal interpretation of the Koran. Strict Wahhabis believe that all those who don't practice their form of Islam are heathens and enemies and thus should be converted or butchered. This distorted interpretation of Islam is followed by terror regime of Taliban and terror groups like Al Qaeda ,Boko Haram ,Lashkar-e-Taiba ,ISIS etc.

                    After 9/11 attack the state sponsor and tacit support to terror groups came to the fore and world community initiated steps to control the menace, but the wahhabi terror groups and there funding has transformed since then. It has spread its tentacles around the globe and has proven its reach and prowess by coordinating suicide attacks around the globe with impunity. No country is beyond the reach of terrorists who refuse to acknowledge the right of other religions to coexist peacefully with them as prophesied by Samuel Huntington in his notorious book Clash of Civilizations. The followers of wahhabbi terror groups have killed more Muslims (Shia,Ahmediyas,Sufi etc.) then the US army did while invading Iraq, another flashpoint to justify violence and take up arms to defend Islam by terrorists.

                   The scourge of Islamic terror has reached unprecedented levels now.What started as a genuine democratic uprising against the tyrant dictatorial regimes in Arab world and is nicknamed as "Arab spring" soon was taken over by dreaded terrorists to fulfill there long cherished dream of homeland. The defunct regime of Assad in Syria and nonexistent Iraqi government benefited terrorists to capture and establish there first terror country. Vast swaths of territory between Iraq and Syria was conquered by battle hardened terrorists and once again boundaries are redrawn after the fall of Ottoman empire . These terrorists have implemented strict sharia laws in territory under there control, and show intolerance towards religious minorities and has narrow vision of the world.There barbarism to treat enemies,minorities,women,homosexuals etc can put satan to shame and yet these terrorists claim to be true followers of Islam.

                                             ISIS terrorists executing minority Christians 

                These terrorists follow violent ideology and refuse to reconcile with fellow brethren among Islamic community or other religions. Truth is these islamic terrorists have done irreparable damage to a peaceful religion of Islam, there barbaric methods and complete contempt for human rights blemished Islam. Acts of terrorism attributed to terror mongers can't be equated with Islam. The vast majority of Muslims are peace-loving & It is terrible that their collective reputation is tarnished by a small number of motivated but mis-informed extremists.

               
                    

Dragon's Threat To World Peace

                        “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.”  The above quote by Mao Zedong in August 1927 is a legacy etched in psyche of Chinese ruling class. Chinese insatiable appetite for power and greed to shape world order to its satisfaction is a formidable danger lurking over the world. Chinese behemoth's perpetual hunger to increase its landmass and thus yield its power and influence is the biggest threat to human kind. The rise of China isn't peaceful for its neighbors or for world at large no matter how long world ignores the inevitable threat to world peace.Chinese belligerence is at display when it comes to settling territorial disputes with its neighbors, 1962 war with India, 1979 war with Vietnam, 1969 clashes with Soviet Union are testimony to it.
                        For long, world ignored blatant Chinese human rights record, persecution of Buddhists,Muslims and other minorities religious or linguistic are frequent affair. China being an authoritarian state enforces strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.The Communist Party’s Anti Rightist Policy of 1957 opposed “local nationalism” among ethnic minorities and clamped down on religions.  Religion was suppressed, but so was ethnic language, cultural cuisines and garb. Religious texts and religious places are destroyed, their religious leaders persecuted, and individual adherents punished but such human rights abuses are ignored by world.

               Buddhist Monk Burns Himself To Death Protesting The Persecution Of Buddhist

                      After annexation of Tibet Chinese govt has deliberately altered Tibet's demography by settling millions of Chinese from mainland. This demographic change was termed as "Cultural genocide" by Tibetan spiritual guru Dalai Lama but world showed indifference and continued to do business with China. Chinese antipathy towards Buddhists in Tibet is astonishing, the peaceful Buddhists monks are frequently arrested, keeping photo of Dalai Lama is a criminal offense and when such dictates didn't yielded desired results of containing religious activities of monks Chinese govt outlawed "Reincarnation". Although bizarre and unheard before Chinese govt placed restrictions on the religious practice of reincarnation. This is a blatant abuse of human rights and meddling in the religious affairs of individuals and community,a right accepted and granted in any free society.

            

         

   China forced imams from its eastern Muslim majority Xinjiang region to dance in the street 

                   It's not the Buddhists who r frequently under the hammer of Chinese authorities but other religious minorities like Muslims are targeted routinely too. Among restrictions imposed are on clothing, forceful feeding during fasting month & vilification of religious customs. In the Xinjiang province Chinese authorities again employed the similar tactics of altering demography by settling people from mainland much to the abasement of local inhabitants. The Uyghur minorities in Xinjiang province,Buddhists in Tibet are glaring example of oppressive Chinese regime. The Chinese govt suspect the minorities and thus in order to maintain its supremacy suppress the inhabitants with impunity.

Hong Kong protesting for Democracy against Communist rule

                    It's not the minorities even people demanding democracy on mainland and Hong kong are brutally suppressed by communist regime of China. In order to quell political unrest and scuttle moves towards democracy Chinese govt resorted to economic reforms. Chinese economy uninterrupted march after economic reforms of 1979 has catapulted China at the center stage of world economy and authorities main concern is to continue creating jobs and uplifting large section of impoverished people thus maintaining and bringing equality to ensure political stability.Although China has a non-intervention policy in the internal affairs of foreign countries yet its degree of implementation varies constantly.

                   In 2009 China defined its "Core interests", and these included Tibet, Taiwan and South China Sea. It means China won't hesitate to wage a war on these Core interests despite economic concerns but its nothing more then to attain regional hegemony and lust to dominate surrounding neighborhood. Chinese growing assertiveness over territorial claims and threat of war is pushing the world on the brink of inevitable war. Chinese claims of sovereignty over entire South China Sea is contested by Brunei, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam is the biggest flashpoint in Asia. China has similar dispute with Japan on sovereignty over uninhabited Senkaku Islands.There's a mistrust and acrimony over territory with India and after Japan  the biggest thorn in Chinese flesh is India's rise economically and militarily. Chinese claims over Taiwan and its agenda to unify it with mainland is equally worrisome.The clear and present danger with China is its inability to contemplate its hawkish behavior and respecting international laws.

                                             South China Sea claims and counter claims

                  

                     Chinese economy built on stimulus packages and devalued currency is unsustainable according to economists, thus to prevent unrest and deflect attention China may become more assertive over territorial claims in future .Open defiance of internationally accepted principles of free speech, individual freedom to religion,scuttling any move towards democratic process in mainland or Hong kong and disregard of sovereign claims by foreign county over territory makes China the biggest and most formidable impediment for world peace today. China has the world’s largest army with a large arsenal of short, medium range and Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) missiles. It has just built the world’s largest navy with nuclear submarines,aircraft carrier and  with an increasing airpower. 

                    The threat from China to usurp territories of surrounding nation is serious,her unending disputes and frequent skirmishes with neighbors has the potential to escalate into a full fledged war. Only concerted efforts by countries in dispute with China along with countries believing in free world around the globe in unison can effectively contain China and thwart Chinese attempts to subdue world.

Pseudo Secularists Club

                                        " Barbad gulistaan karne ko to ek hi ullu kaafi tha
                              Yahan..har shaakh pe ullu baitha hai anjam-e-gulistan kya hoga"

                               The antipathy of Pseudo-Secularists(PS) towards Modi government is never a state secret, they abhor and condemn everything from dressing to ministerial births. There's a club of such PS and membership is through abusing Modi or RSS or anything remotely Hindu, the more venomous outbursts against Hindus and Hindu festivities the better. The club has self glorified media wallahs who are themselves engrossed in dubious acts but that's forgiven. There animosity towards Hindus and BJP in particular isn't new, even before BJP govt was formed some cohorts raised unfounded sick doubts among minorities and tried to create mass hysteria, some clowns deciphered Modi's refusal to wear skull cap as epitome of anti secularism. Despite there dislike and utter disdain BJP managed to secure unprecedented majority in parliament.
                           Once anointed PM candidate, Modi graced PM chair adding insult to injury of these coterie of Anti nationals. Gradually the notoriety of NGOs whose activities were at zenith during previous govt were laid bare and there nefarious designs were uprooted. Ban on many unscrupulous NGOs by Modi govt is hailed across the country to the chagrin of PS club . One such NGO owner and PS stalwart Teesta Setalvad who's synonymous of Gujrat riot victims and felicitated by PS brigade is under scrutiny for financial impropriety cases.

Interesting there is a deafening silence of PS when Teesta morphed image of Goddess with ISIS terrorists. Tolerance and free speech of Charlie Hebdo was questioned after Paris attack , but its freedom of expression and tolerance preached when it comes to caricaturing Hindu Gods & rituals. The same nonsensical arguments were employed and propagated to defend MF Hussain paintings,tolerance ,free speech ,freedom of expression comes to rescue and preached to masses by bigots. The morphed picture was removed by Teesta when Social Media(SM) objected vociferously.

                         Certain media wallahs who are important part of PS coterie had free run till social media became a force to reckon with, there supremacy over news is challenged and epithets champions are at receiving end much to there surprise and anguish. Here Rajdeep Sardesai scuffle with NRI is a testament to such ignominious attitude. There high expectations from Rahul Gandhi to take reins of Congress and challenge Modi is in tatters till now so only hope left for them is to create controversies.. There antipathy towards Modi is so nauseating that on a goodwill trip this journalist tried to incite people by asking about Gujarat riots in USA thus getting a prompt reply by NRIs. Lok Sabha election results marginalized them and this indifference isn't easy to digest, they harp on to any issue that can be twisted to tarnish incumbent govt.

                    

                         Earlier unfounded fears of Christian community were exploited without

much success, Lalit Modi case was overplayed but ended up with egg on there faces once names of political leaders in opposition started tumbling out , FTII student strike is showcased as attempt to scuttle free thinking and creativity. I cannot vouch for Gajendra Chauhan's credentials but since when did students get the right to chose principal ? The recent addition to FTII controversy is RG support for striking students thus prompting a leading actor Paresh Rawal to question skills of RG as an actor to advise management of institute .In there quest for controversies and malign Modi government as insensitive and cruel towards a section of minorities they glorified a terrorist after hanging. The buffoonery of our media came to the fore in Nepal, our media was disliked  during Nepalese earthquake goodwill created by India in relief and rescue was dented by media and thus was at receiving end from people of Nepal .

                      The support to Yakub campaign didn't end with his death, there's a continuous campaign by left liberals, NGOs & some politicians in giving religious connotations to a simple capital punishment incident to a convicted terrorist and again section of media is willfully playing a second fiddle . The antipathy of left liberals towards nationalist government isn't an enigma,there intellectual supremacy is in tatters and are constantly hounded by nationalist forces now. The emergence of proud,patriotic middle class is constantly exposing there lies and unhindered propagation of leftist agenda is facing impedance. 

              These above two national dailies have reported news of Yakub hanging and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam demise on front page but the space allocated to a terrorist hated by Indians and Peoples President adored and respected by Indians gives us an idea as to the importance attached by newspapers to varying news. The social initiatives of Modi are constantly undermined by same people be it a #selfiewithdaughter or Swatchta Abhyan campaign or organizing Yoga Day. Modi is ridiculed and ideas are mocked to the dislike of ordinary Indians. As the steps initiated by government and SM to dislodge and redundancy of PS coterie becomes more intense and apparent,the chorus to defame Modi will pickup more pace. To there discomfort no serious allegation of corruption or riots can be leveled against incumbent govt and thus only hope to blemish govt is by manufacturing controversies. The viciousness of the PS campaign who's sidelined for good now has incredible hold on English media and there voices are only going to get shrill. The isolated and stray incidents will be targeted by this disgruntled PS club in future too and in there jealousness to defame Modi they won't shy away even at the cost of hurting Indian interests.