BLUNT BUTCHER
JAMMU: Ten years imprisonment to a Pakistan national for flying tricolour atop his home in Punjab Province must have come as a rude shock to millions of patriotic Indians, not because he was a die-hard fan of Indian skipper Virat Kohli but because of the long rope and incentives given to those hoisting Pakistan and ISIS flags in Kashmir religiously on every Friday. Not only this but the shameless Indians at the helm in New Delhi have been incentivising such of the rogues who burn and trample beneath their feet, after making circles, the tricolour amid jingoistic yells of Ragdo, Ragdo. For so-called mainstream politicians of all hues, such of the characters are misguided youth and for rulers in New Delhi, every effort is to be made to win their hearts and minds.
It so happened in Pakistan that a youth, tailor by profession, was thrashed, arrested and booked by police under Section 123-A of Pakistan Penal Code and 16 Maintenance of Public Order for damaging the sovereignty of Pakistan. His crime was to fly Indian flag after his favourite batsman Virat Kohli scored 90 runs and India beat Australia in T20 match. No mercy was shown to him despite his pleading that he was a proud Pakistani and had hoisted the Indian flag just for affection of the performance of Indian squad, especially Kohli.
No media, no politician, no activist and none in the Pakistan asked a question over the action against Pakistan based Indian cricket fan.
On the contrary, when Asia Andrabi unfurled Pakistani flag in Srinagar amid Pakistani anthem on the Pakistan Day, the newly rehabilitated BJP ministers underplayed the act with some of them saying flying Pakistani flags is not new in the Kashmir Valley. Waving Pakistani flags is a routine in Kashmir and the trend had spread to Jammu areas also, thanks to BJP partnered government in the State which made it possible under the garb of democracy. The ‘Ek Nishan, Ek Vidhan, Ek Pradhan’ brigade did not only compromise on having two flags but saw no objection in waving of Pakistani flags. On 8th June last year, the then Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh told media in Jammu, “I want to put the facts straight. So far as the anti- national activities are concerned, they (separatists) are doing it (raising of Pak flags and slogans in Kashmir) since long,” What did this infer?
In a brazen attempt of justifying waving of ISIS flags in the Valley, the so-called secular politician Dr Farooq Abdullah termed it as an expression of anger and frustration by the youth who want to wake up the nation. In fact, he went on saying that none of us has bothered about them and there is no way for them to express themselves other than displaying such flags”. Obviously, this was a ploy to seek some sort of package for such seditious elements who have been bashing India and Indian symbols. After all, his National Conference with Omar Abdullah as Chief Minister and PDP had tried to score points over one another to bring a package of rehabilitation and jobs for ‘Ragdo Ragdo’ hooligans and stone pelters. Will any of the so-called mainstream players including NC, PDP, Congress and the BJP tell the nation as to how many youths have been arrested and tried in courts of law for waving Pakistan flags and burning tricolour? Instead, many of Pakistan flag wavers cum stone pelters were absorbed in the armed police, a group of which created acute law and order problem when deployed for Amarnath yatra duty two years ago. They had ransacked the Manigam Police Training Centre and showered choicest invectives against their commanders.
The muscular Prime Minister had garnered votes by vowing in every street of the country that India will be freed from the seditious elements and traitors and when he bedecked the Delhi throne, he embraced the perpetrator by visiting him in his home last month. In return he got Pathankot gift with seven bodies of valiant soldiers.
It is not only Indian political class, which is showing signs of timidity openly but the so-called activists keep shouting from roof-tops in support of those demeaning India and belittling its symbols. All this raises just one single question that we spineless and shameless Indians can never rise to uphold national dignity. Secondly, it took Pakistan just a day or so to decide the fate of Indian cricket fan. On the contrary, the criminals, separatists and terrorists are portrayed as victims with pseudo secularists and activists invoking human rights for seeking justice for them. While celebrities manage relief overnight, the seditious elements get away after decades long judicial dispensation.
