By Sushil Kutty
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent two days in Russia hugging and talking with Russian President Vladimir Putin amidst speculation that Modi has been asked by the United States to negotiate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine; that Prime Minister Modi is the only world leader with the influence and clout to put an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. Perhaps, for the Indian Prime Minister, Indian Army soldiers killed by terrorists and militants transgressing into Jammu &Kashmir isn’t war by a thousand cuts.
Actually, Indian army soldiers killed in terror attacks in Jammu & Kashmir is almost daily occurrence. Five army men were killed on July 8, announced with the usual statements containing words like condolence and brave-heart. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi hardly ever takes note; he tweets on cricket and if some filmstar falls ill, but never to condole a soldier’s killing in an attack on India. Ditto Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh? Manoj Sinha, J&K’s Lt. Gov? What’s common, however, is India’s ‘Who’s Who’ promising to avenge the killings.
People laugh. Here’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Russia talking big with Russian President Vladimir Putin, talking of bringing an end to the Russia-Ukraine War in that far off land when at home terrorists are killing Indian Army soldiers with an impunity that comes with practice. Whatever happened to Article 370 and the second Modi government’s boast that abrogating Article 370 was the last nail in the cross-border terrorism coffin!
Does Modi’s writ run in J&K? The abrogation of Article 370 was all in vain. Terrorists and militants aren’t scared of the soldiers anymore. Could be the terror modules are getting tougher training at the launching pads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Common Indians have always wondered whether the ISI is a better outfit than India’s RAW? The myth of NSA Ajit Doval, supposed to be the top spy in the subcontinent, the one who came in from the cold, stands busted.
Indians were fooled into believing the exotic stories of how Doval remained undercover in Lahore’s streets, talking Punjabi with a local Lahori accent, undiscovered and completely assimilated with the Lahori punjabi denizen. For a long time common aam aadmi Indians were in awe of the spy-grandmaster handpicked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself to India’s NSA!
Ajit Doval remains NSA in Modi’s third term and we are told nothing fazes the super-spy. Does that include the frequent killings of Indian Army soldiers by ISI-trained Pakistani terrorists and their proxies in Jammu & Kashmir? Intelligence is a casualty under Doval’s watch and there’s nobody to pin accountability on. What is NSA Doval doing other than not fielding questions on how his son is alleged beneficiary of papa’s position and power? Jay Shah isn’t the only odd man out thriving on dynasty.
Going back to avenging the killings of Indian Army soldiers, Modi’s tall talk has been cut to size. The Kathua killings of five army men will not go unavenged, said Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane. India is sending a “strong message” to the enemy laced with “grief on the loss of five bravehearts”. And their “sacrifice will not go unavenged.” One of the slain soldiers was a Junior Commissioned Officer. The terrorists vanished in the thick foliage.
Responsibility for the attack has been taken by an outfit called “Kashmir Tigers”, which has links with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). Monday’s attack on Indian troops was the second in two days. Islamist terrorists are enjoying themselves in J&K and India’s counter terrorist operations aren’t succeeding. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is busy massaging Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ego. Putin is a dictator and Prime Minister Narendra Modi risks being alluded to as a dictator’s sidekick.
At home, PM Narendra Modi is not effective. Witness what’s happening in J&K, and what is happening in Manipur? How will India, Modi, Shah and Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh avenge the frequent killings of Indian troops? Surgical strikes, airstrikes like Balakote? Modi doesn’t appear to be partial to “Ghar Me Ghuske Maarenge” any more. That was a one-off strike and not to be resorted to again. Modi’s earlier two terms often raised “PoK” and there are reports that the “recapture of PoK” will be the next big step waiting to happen in Modi’s third term.
Election 2024 hit hard Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s legacy. At the end of Modi’s third term, Modi’s 2014 and 2019 victories will not be spoken about as much as BJP’s slide to minority status under Modi’s watch, with his boundless arrogance to blame.
The “Recapture of PoK” is there, right at the top, in Modi’s third-term priorities. If Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru lost the territory to Pakistan, Modi has to recapture the lost territory. Modi’s Nehru obsession will follow Modi to the grave. Till then, Indian Army soldiers will keep getting killed at the LoC, and ambushed in the dense forests of Jammu. It ain’t Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s fault that he has to put an end to the Russia-Ukraine War, after all that is the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first priority. Indian soldiers getting killed in Jammu & Kashmir is common place. Russian and Ukrainian getting killed in Ukraine is top priority, must be stopped at all costs. Till then everything stops, from Manipur to J&K. (IPA Service)
