BLUNT BUTCHER
Self respect is not something that can be bestowed. It has to be inherent. And if anyone allows himself to be humiliated, no issues as long as it is in his personal capacity but when the humiliation hits institution, moreso the nation, the act becomes unpardonable.
Some enthusiastic parliamentarians brought shame to the nation this afternoon when they visited discredited and anti-national separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s residence in Srinagar for seeking his audience, they had shock in store for themselves when doors were shut in the backdrop of radicals chanting ‘Hum Kya Chahte– Azadi’. Out of frustration or in a huge fit of embarrassment, Sharad Yadav led group of three MPs invoked Hurriyat hawks hospitality, a few years ago, when had entertained them with a cup of tea. The MPs were heard saying that “Pichili Baar Tu Chai Pillai Thhi”.
Isn’t it a national shame? The parliamentarians had not gone on a personal visit. They had flown to trouble torn Srinagar in a chartered flight, running at the cost of hard-earned money of Indian tax-payers. Every penny spent on them belonged to ‘self-respecting’ Indians and even security personnel and soldiers who have been laying lives in the Kashmir theatre every next or third days because of Pak stooges violence. If they don’t have least self-respect, they should have thought twice that they were representing the temple of Indian democracy-Parliament.
And, the salt on the wounds came when the trio MPs showed no sign of embarrassment and instead kept eulogizing the separatists who threw them out from their door steps. Kashmir had a tradition of even feeding dogs but this has since gone. Therefore, how could Indian parliamentarians have expected to be entertained in an atmosphere which keeps reverberating with slogans, “Indian dogs go back”, inscribed on the walls of the city. The parliamentarians had cheeks to tell to the waiting media that they will continue pestering Paki stooges, who are on regular payroll of ISI and Islamabad, to oblige them of being heard, no matter some other time of their convenience. Didn’t these parliamentarians know that these anti-national separatists are milking Indian ex-chequer by having security cover up of nearly 1,000 personnel, fleet of vehicles, concessions in terms of air-freight, lodging in five star hotels, variety of cuisines, rehabilitation of kin and what not. They are living king-size life without any known source of income. The icing on the cake is that they are virtually enjoying impunity from any legal action, no matter how much their involvement is in Hawala money laundering or how fiercely they can go in anti-India campaign. So much so that no action is taken against a high-profile separatist despite his open admission of being involved in the killing of three IAF personnel.
What a sad state of affairs for ‘distinuguished’ Indian parliamentarians, who hold lot many expectations from Pak lackeys. Those who wag their tongues and move their tales in obedience of Pakistan masters have suddenly become most sought after entities to restore peace in Kashmir. What an irony; expecting peace from peace breakers. Let there be no mistake about self-seekers in Indian politicians. If they say they had gone to the door steps of anti-national elements in the larger interest of nation, they are just befooling their compatriots. They are just strengthening their vote banks in respective states at the cost of nation. This may yield them short term dividends but ultimately their machinations will boomerang. They will have to answer for their follies which have belittled self-respecting Indians in the lanes of Srinagar this evening.