Security Threat: Internal or External

India is the biggest democratic country in the world. It commands a great respect around the globe due to its socialist, democratic, and secular values. However India is still far away from becoming a super power. For becoming superpower nation like America, a country should be economically strong as well there are many other aspects also which makes a country superpower. Internal security of any country is of paramount importance, if it wishes to grow smoothly. Issues of internal security such as insurgency in north east region, naxalism, communal violence, regional violence have become barrier to the utter development of the country since independence.

Beginning with insurgency in North East states it has diverse demand advocated by various militant outfits immediately after independence. The problem has remained complex as North East states houses over 200 ethnic groups with distinct language, dialect and socio cultural identity. 1980s saw the rise and fall of militancy in Punjab in which misguided youth played with weapon for separate khalistan and now and again this problem bounce backs creating threat to the country. This decade also witnessed the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, operation blue star and Sikh riot. End of militancy in Punjab marked the beginning of terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir.25 years on, Indian security forces are still fighting with militancy. Another security challenge to India is Naxalism to which India is fighting from top to toe. It started with the revolt against the oppressive feudal lords in Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh. Exactly the term “NAXALISM” comes from naxalbari, a small village in West Bengal, where a section of CPI (MARXIST) led by Kanu sanyal led a violent uprising on 25^th May 1967. The problem started when a tribal was attacked by local goons over a land issue. These revolts somehow quelled successfully, but the first decade of 21^st century saw the revival of naxalism creating terror among the citizen of the country. Recent killings in Chhattisgarh and Bihar have shown a cruel face of naxalism. Ex Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has termed it biggest threat to internal security of our country.

Here the story of internal threat doesn’t end; problems like communal violence and regional violence are also a kind of threat to the internal security. Communal violence began with the British implementing the policy of divide and rule and they succeeded in creating a hatred atmosphere among Hindu and Muslim against each other which led to form communal parties Muslim League and Hindu Mahasabha. This atmosphere of hatred is still showing the face in the form of riots. Bhagalpur riot 1989, widespread violence throughout the country after demolition of Babri Masjid, Godhra violence 2002 and recent riot of Muzaffarnagar are some harsh examples of communal violence creating barrier in the utter development of the country. “Hindustan” does not mean the exclusive land of religious Hindus. The constitution is very clear that India is land of multiple religions where persons of all faiths are equal, and none can be discriminated against. We say that India is a country of unity in integrity but regional violence in the country has been proofing it wrong. First of its kind of regional hatred was exhibited in Maharashtra in late 1960s riding on the slogan of “pungi bajao lungi bhagao”. Several incidents of regional clashes have taken place since then for vested interest. For example anti north Indian campaign in Maharashtra, anti Bihari campaign in Assam, anti outsider campaign in J&K and recent exodus of North Eastern from Bangalore are among few quote. These are some incidents which shatter the dream of India becoming a superpower like America.

A country needs to grow holistically. A country cannot grow when it is surrounded by so much security threat, it will always create barrier in the development of the country as a whole. Ultimately , the people of India wants to live in an ambience of peace and harmony where they are assured of safety and security, when peace and harmony is threatened by these much issues of internal security ,it imperils the essential atmosphere needed for progress and prosperity.