Editorial

EDITORIAL

RANBIR MANHAS

Bullet for Bullet

The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir while addressing a function in Haryana has pleaded for a bullet for bullet policy to deal with the terrorists who according to him do not sneak into the borders armed to the teeth merely to listen to the sermons. Hard words against militants and militancy do sound pleasing, but is this not a deviation from the Gandhian philosophy according to which if you are slapped on one side of the face offer another to be slapped upon? Bullet for bullet policy has been of LK Advani so should we believe that Azad has shed Gandhianism and adopted Advaniism or there is something else behind the innocent face? Another thing that sounds good to ears is his assertion that militancy can’t be fought by obtaining support from militants in elections, but does he have a plausible answer to the question that how can he fight out militancy by seeking support of the ‘well wishers of militants’ with whom he shares the bed called coalition? Azad may be a nationalist, but more than that he is a politician having set his eyes on the national politics that he has succeeded to hold so far. As an intelligent politician he is aware that to survive in Indian politics adopting pro-national policy is imperative. So he has decided to raise a slogan that appeals Indians at large and pro-India element in the State. When he came here I had written an editorial cautioning him about the emotional slogans that his adversaries had been equipped with, with a suggestion to find out an emotional slogan for him also to remain equally equipped against his political opponents. I know he is a senior leader and is not used to borrowing suggestions, but he has found the required emotional slogan to coax his voters. By speaking hard against militants Azad is trying to snatch the space of BJP as Mufti and Abdullahs have been doing to highjack the separatist agenda by floating controversial proposals. The formula that everything is fair in love and war aptly applies in case of politics also where to win elections everything fowl or fair is justified. Azad may be a nationalist, but I have reasons to believe that the company he keeps is not. Had they been so those fellow party men who fought militancy at the cost of their lives in Doda district wouldn’t have been treated as out caste and cornered in the party. Sadly but not surprisingly when men belonging to insignificant organizations like Sewa Dal have been provided government vehicles, senior patriotic Congressmen who dared to keep the National flag aloft when even talking peace amounted to invite militant’s wrath are denied vehicles and security to restrict their movement and ensure their political death. Some of the senior Congress leaders have been shown the door by dubbing them as ‘Sangis’ for their offence of challenging the militants and this all happening in the home district of the CM and his constituency. Obviously what happened in past could not be without his knowledge and what is happening now cannot be without his consent. Talking against militants and discouraging those who fight militants are two different things. If Mr. Azad is sincere he should try to encourage patriots at least in his party otherwise his bullet for bullet policy will also be described as a gimmick destined to fall flat like his drive against corruption about which he has himself made a public confession.