Narinder Singh
Every incident in India, be it judicial verdicts, rejection of mercy petitions for killers of humanity, terror attacks, rapes. Corruption and scandals are generally politicized. Politicians least bother about national interest and try derive political mileage from every issue or non-issue. Even religion and worship places are not spared from exploitation. Babri Masjid and Ram Mandir issues are points in question. After independence from British we have attained less but loss much in terms of social, religious and moral values. Our society indulges in most unscrupulous activities, as corruption has penetrated in our blood. It appears as if we have attained the freedom just to indulge in corruption. Our ancestors used to praise British Rule because of discipline and decorum. Now the society is most undisciplined and corrupt because politicians can go to any extent for their vested interests.
In 70’s Indira Gandhi raised “Gareebi Hatao” slogan, which she could not achieve. She was scared of losing elections, with the result she manipulated operation “Blue Star” to flush out militants including Bhindrawale- the sole architect of Khalistan movement and one time election campaigner of the Congress in Punjab. This was done to divert the attention of the people from main issues which she could not solve. Moreover, she was scared of BJP coming to power. Firstly, the weapons and other co-related things were allowed to go inside the Golden Temple and then Army was ordered to attack the most sacred religious place. As a result, sentiments of Sikh community were hurt. This Army attack on their own people could have been avoided by cutting electricity, water and food supplies in order to capture the misguided people. Such unwanted action resulted in the assassination of Indira Gandhi, by her own trusted security guards in the fit of religious sentiments. After this gruesome incident, thousands of innocent Sikhs were killed on the direction of Congress leaders including Rajiv Gandhi who made a brazen comment, “When a big tree falls, it has its side-effects”. Thus, he provoked rioters for more killings. These politicians created bad blood among the two closely knit communities. Why the Hazratbal shrine at Srinagar, where militants were hiding, was not attacked and instead safe passage was given to them. Why this political discrimination? We should unitedly guard against the machinations of politicians and put an end to the horror they generally create for their vested interest. It is actually politicians who are responsible for making whole system corrupt, including bureaucrats, business class and common man. We are living in a democratic country where there is no qualification for the politicians to become legislators and no age of retirement and tenures are fixed. They start getting pension without completing their tenures. These politicians mislead innocent people by making false promises through their election manifestos which they never fulfill. Their utterings have always dual meanings. They say something and do another.
During his chief minister ship Dr. Farooq Abdullah in Feb. 1983 while addressing the industrialists at Chamber House Church Gate Mumbai said, “Should I speak as an honest man or politician?” In other words politicians know about their shortcomings but they still believe in befooling/ bluffing people in general. Rather, they indulge in corrupt practices in all sphere of life — religious, political and social. They seldom work for harmonious development of the society. Corruption in this country has taken the shape of an epidemic which cannot be eradicated unless there is a revolution by the people against the corrupt elements including politicians.
Anna Hazare’s crusade against corruption was a step towards cleansing public life but politicians ganged up and sabotaged the movement that had taken the country by storm. Therefore, time has come when people must make the politicians accountable for their misdeeds. Political parties ruling at the Centre and in the states believe in revenge and become vindictive of dissent. They have betrayed the nation on eradicating corruption.
Now that the nation seems to have waged war against corruption by demonetization, let us view the scenario through broader prism.
To avenge Uri terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted during his public meetings in south, “India will take revenge of Army martyrs”. He fulfilled his promise by undertaking surgical strikes by the Army after crossing LOC in POK and killing more than 35 militants and Pak soldiers. Huge publicity made surgical strikes subject of criticism. Even Pakistan Prime Minister Nawab Sharief denied any such strike. Even Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sought proof of this strike. Not only this, Rahul Gandhi, Congress Vice President attacked and dubbed BJP as ‘Shaheedo ke khoon ke Dalal’. This is the level of our leaders who never bothered about the national interest and the language used by Rahul Gandhi was painful. He should have been dealt strictly under law by filing a defamation case. Ironically, such persons are aspiring to be Prime Minister of this great nation.
(The writer is a former Director Information Deptt. J&K Govt.)
(To be continued)