Web site offers suggestions to India for building world opinion

Huma Siddiqui

India’s reaction to the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US began with an outpouring of shock, grief and sympathy, followed by the wry I-told-you-so look as the US grappled with international terrorism.

In the background of these events, forum members of one of the defence web sites Bharat-Rakshak.com have have come up with a few suggestions for the Indian government on how to build up world opinion on India’s position on the issue.

One of the suggestions put forward is that full-page advertisements should be put out in the American press along with commercials on various networks saying: “Which country, apart from the US, has lost the maximum number of its dear citizens? We share your grief, America.” The advertisement will do more than South Block can ever hope to achieve in building sympathetic US public opinion for India.
In addition, the Indian government should set up its version of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

India should also be prepared to discuss Kashmir internationally. Amongst the main reasons why Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is willing to help the US in its attack on Osama bin Laden is the quid pro quo deal on writing off Pakistan’s huge loans and making US the third party in the Kashmir talks.

Also, India should gear itself up for a post-Musharraf regime since, according to experts and keen Pakistan watchers, the General’s days may be numbered. If he helps the Americans, his economy may be saved, but the fundamentalists will not let him rest in peace. And if he opposes the US... well, that would be the last straw for Pakistan’s sagging economy, they say.

The other suggestions are:
Learn media management: Half of America’s battle has been won by the manner in which its top officials managed the media. Can one think of an Indian mayor or MLA who, along with the police, medical and fire chiefs, can brief the Indian media daily on rescue operations?

Unleash second generation reforms: Remember, India’s liberation programme was flagged off right after the Gulf War? While there is global turmoil and threat of a domestic recession, it is best to introduce path-breaking reforms. Reason: like the Narasimha Rao-Manmohan Singh team you can shrug your shoulders, blame the world, and say ‘I had no choice’. Second generation reforms should include permitting foreign direct investment in all industries except defence, liberalising the farm sector, allowing private players into the pension fund market, dereserving the small-scale sector, permitting contract labour, and making panchayats and non-governmental organisations the agencies for distribution of subsidies.

The forum recommends banning Joint Parliamentary Committee probes and make the implementation of judicial inquiries binding.
It is important for India to get back on its feet faster. Two hijacked American Airlines planes crashed into the twin WTC towers, but the airline was back in operation after 48 hours. Compare this to the hijacking of the Indian Airlines flight to Kathmandu. Nepal was off the schedule for more than a month.

Dump archaic regulations: The real hero of the terrorist attacks was technology: live pictures of the ghastly attack, last-minute mobile calls made to loved ones, and millions of e-mails. All this helped build sympathetic public opinion.

While in India one needs special permission to telecast a live programme from a public place. And only a limited number of mobile and basic telecom operators can wire India.Why can’t India allow use of technology and offer telephone , mobile or Internet services on a revenue sharing basis?