MODI & PAKISTAN

The intention was good and the offer, probably genuine. But surely, Narendra Modi, the new Prime Minister, wouldn’t have bargained for a situation like this. In the process he had ignited the anti-Indian sentiments of the separatist Kashmiris and the Pakistanis.

The case of Pakistan is classic - a country tottering on economic collapse, shunted by countries of the world for being the sponsor of global terrorism, with huge political strife brewing internally, and the hawkish Army trying to wrest control, the situation gave the country the proverbial ‘last straw’.

Was it necessary or could the status quo have helped? We hear the BJP and the Congress wrestling it out on the media, plenty.

What are we going to do? Send the Pakistan High Commissioner back and face the same act by Pakistan in return and thereby improve the enmity into bigger scale?

One feels that The PM could have attempted the reconciliation move little later. For him there were so many other pressing matters for the country, from Policy Paralysis down, to focus upon. Knowing that the Indo-Pak relationship had never been good for more than six decades, in spite of the best attempts by many statesmen, including his own former PM; he could have aimed to attempt it a little later, after giving stability to the country.

So what is the suggestion? Now that we had decided not to talk at the Secretary level, drop the whole thing down. Do nothing. Don’t attempt anything for some time. And that includes the Hurriyat too.

The best punishment that you can meet out to someone, is to ignore him. And let it be.

IROM SHARMILA - SAINTHOOD OR MARTYRDOM?

Cruelty to fellowmen by the military of her own country, backed by its lopsided policies in the guise of security of the nation, forced her to hunger strike, to push the central government to repeal the rule.  Did she ever think that it was going to be an eternal act? The indifference of the government and her resolve of not going back until something happens, have forced her to be at it, ever!

In the process, Irom Sharmila lost her real life. She became a poster girl of the media and a role model for all such NGOs and associations that take-up issues of suppression & cruelty of the State on its citizens. Huge newsprint reams and thousands of hours of media time were spent on her.  A normal women, she was forced to spurn the love of Desmond who wanted to marry her. She hasn’t eaten solid food for 14 years and the all the pleasures of living had become a mirage to her.

What is left for Irom Sharmila now? From a living crusader, she will have to move into sainthood but posthumously. Or if she loses her life in the middle, a martyrdom!

That perfectly fits Indian political system. All political parties are looking for martyrs. From MK Gandhi downwards, we have plenty of them. But from time to time, these parties, in order to rejig its importance, need fresh martyrs. The Sharmilas of the world come handy for them.

Whose life is it anyway?