Pakistan observes July 20 as Black Day as a 'tribute' to the victims of atrocities in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). Advisor to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaz Aziz, a committed India-baiter lodges a complaint with the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) against India. The international media is 'appalled' at the way the demarcation between civilians and terrorists has been bitten to the dust in J&K.
But, what we do on the floor of the Parliament is just indulge in a mud-slinging game that only shows the world's largest democracy in poor light. If Omar Abdullah of National Conference (NC) boycotts the all-party meeting called by Mehbooba Mufti (Chief Minister of J&K), then a veteran Congress leader of the stature of P Chidambaram tries to find loopholes in the J&K policy as followed by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The monsoon session of the Parliament has witnessed a lot of blame game with both the government and its opposition parties taking jibes at each other. Fair enough! But at the end of the day, it's the blurred approach toward J&K that's pushing India to the receiving end on various global fora.
If Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani is worshipped as a martyr by Pakistan, then we need to find out as to why global sympathy for him is actually denigrating India. There's an urgency to explore why even a certain section of the Indian media is not quite excited enough to endorse our government's J&K policy.
And when Chidambaram is quoted in the media saying, " We ignored the grand bargain under which J&K acceded to India... we broke our promises, we broke our faith and we paid a price for 40 years... Turn the clock back all the way to 1947 and the original terms of accession to the extent that is today possible," we can't afford to take his words casually.
Now the question is: Are we really united? Do we truly live up to the values of unity despite diversity? We don't. If Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh regrets the use of pellets, one appreciates his view because pellets have garnered a negative response all over. But how long will we make a joke of ourselves by constantly playing politics over a massacre? When will our leaders put aside political differences in the larger interest of humanity and nationalism?
When separatists in Kashmir rub shoulders with our enemies across the border, we react mildly by putting the former under house arrest. Our respectable Prime Minister hardly has a word or two for the vulnerable situation we find ourselves under.
Time is running out! India is becoming another Israel, China and Pakistan, countries that have been lambasted for suppressing free voice. Instead of entering the ring and wrestling it out for political gains, let's set a trend. Let's have a concern for the Kashmiris and assuage the acrimony they have for India.
Yes, Kashmir is an internal matter of India. But if it's so, let's play straight. Put aside political differences. Don't make statements that only expose narrow-mindedness with an eye to make political capital.
We are letting our foes to cash in on the J&K ruckus to embarrass India. It's time we looked beyond petty interests and assembled under one roof.
This is an advice that may not reach the ears of the mighty and powerful. But, you better don't kick it into the dustbin.
Jai Hind!
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