By Dr. Gyan Pathak
The politics in India in the week past in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack has laid bare a troublesome political and social Faultline. Internal harmony in the country, which is a prerequisite in overcoming the threats and challenges offered to us by the terrorists and our neighbour Pakistan, is seen broken. Sentiments ran high both at political and social levels, many of them reduced themselves far below the mature and measured response that is required to deal with such a situation we are entrapped into.
At the social level many tried to reduce the severity of the terror attack to merely a Hindu Muslim issue. It was the result of the decades of communal divisive politics in the country, which in the last decade have reached to a very high level under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi regime. BJP’s politics has hacked the internal social harmony, and the society has been divided on communal lines. Communal politics has also divided the political parties. The recent statements made by many political leaders are testimony to that. Some opposition political leaders and other people have even unwittingly made such an attack on PM Narendra Modi led government that sounded in favour of Pakistan. Such irresponsible statements must stop.
Nevertheless, many Muslim leaders have shown maturity in this regard, and are calling spade a spade by criticising the terrorist and Pakistan for the killings of Hindus on communal lines. BJP and its government have failed so far in restoring the internal harmony in the country by taking advantage of the secular statements made particularly by Muslim leaders, such as AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, and by other opposition political leaders.
PM Narendra Modi led government have been pursuing a policy of witch hunt of its political adversaries in the country to a level of extreme bitterness. It has created a political Faultline in the country. Political leader of the opposition who have avoided unnecessary criticism of the PM Narendra Modi led government were even labelled BJP’s spokespersons by their brethren in the anti-BJP political camp. Even the Congress leader like Shashi Tharoor was not spared, though his voice is wise, measured, and responsible.
Many BJP leaders on the other hand are engaged in criticising the opposition for the communal and political disharmony in the country. They have not yet stopped their campaign against the opposition alleging that they have been indulged in the Muslim appeasement politics, which according to them have created a fertile ground for spread of Muslim terror modules in the country. At this juncture, especially in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack, such a communal politics, is further harming the internal harmony. BJP leadership must think over it, and must make responsible statements, so that the hacked internal harmony can be restored.
PM Narendra Modi and his party its patent organisation RSS and its offsprings must realize that only Hindus, Hindutva, and Hindu Rashtra politics is bound to fail in successfully facing the challenges and threats that are offered by terrorists and Pakistan to India. They should also realize the fact that it is beyond the capacity of any government, forget the PM Narendra Modi government, to rein in terrorists and eliminate terror networks spread globally, and very much active within Indian territory. Terrorist networks are also getting support from Pakistan – moral, financial, and logistics – which has complicated the matter for Indians and their government and security forces. Unless there is internal harmony in the country, it would be very difficult for the government to successfully deal with the emerging situation. Therefore, is would be wiser for the PM Narendra Modi led government to take appropriate steps and adopt appropriate policies for restoring the internal social and political harmony in the country.
Though the umbilical cord of the terrorism in India lies in Pakistan, war with Pakistan can’t solve this problem. India fought three wars with Pakistan, and the problem of Pakistan’s proxy war still exists, and it would probably remain even after another war. Jingoism of the BJP and its supporters may not be effective, as we have already seen in the last 75 years of independence of both the countries which were divided on communal line, which the leaders of both the countries accepted by calling it on religious line.
We actually need internal harmony, to defeat the intentions of Pakistan. It is due to social disharmony in India, Pakistan has been able to continue with proxy war through militants, mercenaries, and terrorists. They are getting helps, guidance, and foothold among the disgruntled elements within Indian territory.
The importance of internal harmony can’t be ignored while strengthening India’s security network to face any challenge offered by the terrorist networks and Pakistan. While the BJP led government must realise the mistakes it has made in preventing terror attack in Pahalgam and subsequent casualties and make amends for the future, it must change its divisive politics for the sake of internal harmony.
As the time is very sensitive at the moment, which goes far beyond the challenges and threats from terrorist networks and Pakistan, the entire opposition and citizens must refrain from making irresponsible statements, that may harm national interest. They must support and enable the government of India in making the right and measured response to the emerging threats arising out of Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent developments in respect to Pakistan getting support from other countries, such as from China and Turkey. India’s decisions, whatever they may be, must not be led by war mongers or sentiments, but by matured minds, which we have not any dearth of – both in the ruling establishment and in the opposition, in the government and among the public. (IPA Service)
Trump’s Second Term’s ‘First 100 Days’: Tariff Chaos, Lower Popularity 