Because the danger is also this. Four days after terrorists struck at multiple locations in Mumbai and entrenched themselves for a long hostage drama, there is rampant anger against the political and executive class. Popular perception of a separation between a governing elite and the rest of the population that feels it deserves better is hazardous in any democracy. It is dangerous when a sentiment gains currency that the elite have to be taken on, and not cooperated with, to get accountability and responsive governance. That is a recipe for dysfunction. No system can be changed or rectified in a day, but the prime minister needs to revive confidence that this time there will be accountability and there will be change.

Dr Singh took the right step of calling an all-party meet over the weekend. This must not be a one-off. This country cannot afford to hurl itself into a general election in the next few months in an atmosphere of divisive politics on issues of national security. This newspaper noted last week that the Mumbai attack could be a definitive one, and that it required extraordinary sanity from our politics. Government and opposition must start giving enough of themselves, not just as a virtuous gesture, but so that they both gain enough space to make a bid for the people’s confidence.