TRIBUE TO JAYLALITHA

 

 

Au Revoir Jaylalitha

 

                                                                                                                                 7.12.16

 

On 5.12.16 there was only one news on the TV. Ms Jaylalitha was critical and that she had a cardiac arrest. Just one day earlier it was announced that she was on her way to recovery and now suddenly this. It seemed that death was determined to take her in its grip. As night descended the TV channels announced that a team of specialist from the AIIMS was also flown from the capital to attend her. Conflicting reports were coming about her condition. Some of the local channels in Chennai even announced her death which was strongly denied by the Appolo authorities. Then at 10 PM I listened to a news item that her condition has slightly improved. It was then that I became sure that death has finally conquered. I have read in many books that just before death the condition of a critically ill person improves. It improves slightly before death to finally extinguish the life within. It is something like a oil lamp which flares up before finally extinguishing. I went off to sleep and when I woke up on 6.12.16 there was the news that Jaylalitha is no more. A brave lady who fought so bravely all odds against her surrendered to death.

Years back I had seen her interview with Simi Grewal. My respect for her started from there. Her english was flawless and her precise way of expression was cutting. She measured every word before it left her lips. She was a very reserved person and people seldom dared to question her. However this particular interview was extraordinary in which for the first time Jaylalitha candidly gave a glimpse of what lies in her mind and heart. She was very small when her father passed away. Her mother was only 20 yrs old. She was very attached to her mother but due to financial circumstanceous her mother had to join the film industry to make a living. She left her alone and went to Chennai.

She used to come very seldom to see her, while little Jaylalitha cried and pined for her. One can imagine the plight of this little girl with no father and the mother having no time to see her. This must have left upon her deep emotional scars. She describes how she used to cry alone. She became vulnerable and extremely unsecure. Her mother also passed away then at the age of 47 leaving her alone. She was completely unaware of the worldly life. She did not even know how to sign a cheque how to run the home. She did not even know what to purchase and where to purchase from. At that point of time the legendry actor MG Ramchandra took her into his fold and guided her life. She acted with him in 28 films and became the number one actress of the South. She doesn't talk too much about her relationship with MG but it is generally believed that they were very close. She never married. I think that she looked upon him as a fatherly figure since her own father died when she was hardly 5 yrs old. Surely the absence of parents and a secure loving home during childhood leaves a painful wound for a lifetime. Perhaps this was the cause of her aloofness and egotism which people describe. When life deals you rotten cards you don't care for niceties.

 

Later on MG also passed away leaving her completely alone in the world. She did not leave his dead body for 2 days. She was abused by MG family but she fought back and vowed to take his political party to new heights. In the coming years her character was besmirched, she was heaped with insults. She describes how she was unable to deal with her torturers. She did not know how to retaliate. She did not know how to fight them. She kept quiet and kept her emotions under tight control. One can imagine this lonely woman distressed and being pushed into a corner with nobody to help her. Her mother gone away, her mentor gone away leaving her alone to fend for herself. Then on 25.3.89 in the Tamilnadu assembly DMK members attacked her. Her sari was pulled and torn and she was hit with heavy objects. She was saved but that was a turning point. She no longer remained a coy and fragile figure thereafter. She vowed that she will enter again the state assembly as CM only. For 2 yrs she worked laboriously and was elected with a massive Majority. She entered the legislature as the supreme commander. As the CM of Tamilnadu.

Such is the grit and determination of Jaylalitha. She then became ruthless to her opponents. She had risen from the ashes. She fought the male domination and made the men crawl before her. She reigned as a queen. Such is the story of Jaylalitha. Every woman in the world should learn from her life. Her life story should inspire every woman.

Jaylalitha was always a winner. In her own words whatever task she decided upon she put her best in it. She always stood first in her school. She was declared the best student of her school. She never learnt acting but once in it she became the topmost actress. She never learnt politics but once in it she made it to the top. She was not a ordinary politician. Her massive work for women and poor would be remembered for years to come. Today Amma canteens are spread all over the state where the poor can have meals for as low as 2 Rs. Crimes against women have vanished from the state. Power has reached the remotest villages. Many welfare schemes for women launched. Tamilnadu surpasses all parameters of development and is today number one state. She had all the merits of becoming the PM of this country but death snatched her away too soon.

No wonder such a massive crown attended her funeral. Such a crowd has never been seen since the death of Indira Gandhi. People were weeping as if their own mother has passed away.

I salute Jaylalitha who would always be remembered alongside the great leaders who shaped India's destiny.

Au Revoir Amma

ASHOK KUMAR

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUSHMA JI AT THE UN

 

                                              SUSHMA JI AT THE UN                                                27.9.16

 

Everybody waited with abated breath. After the disappointment at the lukewarm response of Modi at Kozhikode to the attack in Uri there was a lot of expectation that Sushma Swaraj would certainly nail Pakistan. However it turned out to be a rather motherly act chiding a child for its stupid acts.

The speech first outlined the familiar scourge of terrorism. How it works against humanity and is a curse. A fact which already people know. Nothing new in it. Then Sushma Ji disclosed how terrorists are financed and armed by nations. How certain nations allow terrorists to roam about freely and spread hatred. So far so good. Then it goes on to advise that nations should unite and fight this menace of terrorism. What I want to ask is how all this homilies going to help India to defeat terrorism from across the border. If Sushma and Modi think that giving calls to other nations to come forward and help India in its fight is going to work then they are living in delusion. Nobody helps unless you show your strength. Being docile and advertising ones helplessness make you a laughing stock before the world. This is what we are precisely doing. The speech therefore should have focused more on India's strength and striking capabilities to make it clear that if the world do not support us then India will go alone to any length to finish off this monster of terrorism.

The other part of the speech was more like a child complaining to mother that how he was thrashed by the neighbors son. We invited Nawaz Sharif, we greeted him on Eid, we wished success to their cricket team,Modi attended marriage in Lahore. Sushma Ji became emotional and said look how they have treated us in return. At one point I thought that she would burst into tears. What is the point of all this ? Don't we advertise ourselves as a emerging super power? Is this the language a emerging super power should use ? We crawl and beseech and make ourselves small in the eyes of those nations sitting there. That is why nobody respects us.

It would have been far better if Sushma Ji would have made clear that we have lost our patience and if we are further pressed the world should not blame us for taking Military action against Pakistan. The world should have been put on notice. The speech should have carried a punch and a declaration of intent and action. That is how great nations react against unprovoked attacks on them.

There was no mention of Masood Azhar a known terrorist who has been protected by China from being  declared a terrorist. No mention of Hafeez Sayeed a known declared terrorist by the UN and carrying a reward on his head. On top  of it there was no mention of Pakistan by name. Why did Sushma Ji shied from naming the country which is the culprit ? The speech was hollow and lacked the substance which the present situation demanded. There was no mention of the contours of the policy to be adopted against Pakistan.

The only saving grace was mention of human rights violation in Balochistan and the declaration that Kashmir is a integral part of India. The latter already well known.

Some described the speech as statesmanship. For me it was a cry of helplessness which the world witnessed.

ASHOK KUMAR

 

THE URI ATTACK

                          The URI Attack                          19.9.16

 

The Uri attack  has left 17 of our soldiers dead and more important it has dealt a severe blow to the izzat of our Armed Forces. The Army is sizzling with anger and the Modi Government is sitting in a huddle confused as ever. However the Indian Army is a disciplined force and would not go overboard without a green signal from the elected political bosses. Ultimately the buck stops at Modi. More than 30 hours have passed since the attack and during this period numerous meetings have taken place. Doval meeting the HM. HM meeting the PM. Parrikar meeting the Army Chief. Army Chief meeting the PM. Jaitley meeting the HM. Both HM and Jaitley meeting the PM. So on. Incredibly nothing clear has emerged till now regarding the Indian response to this brazen attack from across the border.

Apart from above fierce statements have emerged from members of the ruling party. PM will ensure that culprits would not go unpunished. HM will declare Pakistan a terrorist state. Jaitley will see to it Pakistan is exposed before the world. The topping on the cake was by Ram Madhav who wants a jaw to be taken for every tooth. Brave statements like feeding dope to the people so that they don't see the utter policy failure of this Government vis-a-vis  Pakistan. Fortunately this is not the 20th century. Every information is available on social platforms and on the internet. People are fully aware of what is happening and cannot be fooled. We know for instance that Pathankot,Gurdaspur happened . Modi visit to Lahore. ISI landing in Pathankot to investigate its own attack. In a nutshell no policy or strategy was ever in place by this so called Nationalist Government to deal with repeated terrorist attacks from across the border. Can we expect now ?

I don't think so. Already arguments to rule out a swift strike by the armed forces as was done in the case of Myanmar has started floating around. The most favourite is that we will strike at our own chosen time and place. Meaning let time pass and everything will cool down and people would forget. Of course at least till the next attack. I have to offer the following suggestions as a common citizen of this country.

1. First of all how efficient is our intelligence gathering. Do we have information and coordinates of terror camps in Pakistan occupied Kashmir? Do we know who are members of the group in the Pakistan Army assigned to carry on these terrorist acts? Where is the location of the group?

Where are the commanders of these terrorist groups located? During MMS tenure when 26/11 occurred it was almost decided to carry out a surgical strike in Pakistan. When the Airforce Chief was consulted he said it will not be possible since clear location and coordinates of terrorists camp is not available. So update intelligence continuously on such locations,people and places so that these can be hit when time comes.

2. Any response has to be swift preferably within 3 hours of a terrorist attack. Then is not the time for meetings and consultations. For this to happen a clear policy has to be in place in advance. Such a policy paper should be prepared and kept confidential. Immediate response as per the policy paper should be carried out within 3 hours of a terrorist attack.

3. How many spies and informers do we have in Pakistan? I think a special attention has to be given to increase their numbers. There is no shortage of disgruntled elements in Pakistan. From the Baloch to Pashtuns and from Shias to Ahmediyas. These should be taken on our payrolls who would continuously supply us information and also sabotage when required. Sleeper cells should be in all the major centers of power in Pakistan. When the security of the nation is in question cost should not matter.

4. A lot is said about nuclear attack in case we retaliate inside Pakistan territory. If we go by fear then we are already defeated. First of all Pakistan will think twice before using nuclear weapons. They know that India will wipe out Pakistan. Looking to the size and population India will be hardly effected. Other thing is that the action should be swift and accurate so that before Pakistan could use nuclear weapons the International community would get time to intervene and call for a ceasfire.

5. Another thing is we assume that any military action would bring Kashmir in focus. Why are we so defensive about Kashmir? Kashmir is Indian territory legally and morally. Let the world talk about Kashmir. Nothing would come out of  it. Pakistan has absolutely no case to talk about it. Let things be decided for once and for all times.

6. Considering everything the preferred action is covert operations inside Pakistan. Terrorist should be killed and military installations targeted. Recently former Army Chief Shankar Roy Chaudhari suggested that India should have its own fidayeen squad for this purpose. RSS who claims to be the protector of Hindus should supply its members for this squad specially when Modi is in trouble.

7.There are a number of secessionist movements in Pakistan. Balochistan,Sindhustan.Pashtunistan. We should now upgrade our assistance to them. Supply them arms and expertise. It is high time that we send our troops to Afghanistan and increase our presence there. It will demoralize the Pakis.

8. The Americans are now wooing India to neutralize the Chinese in this region. We should exploit this situation fully and demand sophisticated military equipment from them. The predator drones are very important for us. The US should supply that to us so terrorists in Pakistan could be targeted and killed.

9. There is one last thing I want to say. It is a fact that we have to make our own arrangements for our security. Nobody is going to come and help us. Our Army is one of the finest in the world. Therefore it is sad to note that our military bases are not secured properly and terrorists can enter them at their will. It is definitely a security lapse. After Pathankot lessons should have been learnt and proper steps to secure the periphery should have been taken. The DM Manohar Parikkar should have taken responsibility for the URI attack and resigned. He has been making only unnecessary statements some of them of ridiculous nature which shows his immaturity

 Mr Modi was very aggressive when he was in opposition. It is coming to haunt him now. He has a absolute majority in Parliament now and the people expect him to act. Till now he has been floundering without any idea what to do. The time for bluster is over and the more he remains inert the more harm he is inviting for India.

 

ASHOK KUMAR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FREEDOM FIGHTERS OR JIHADIS

23.7.16

Burhan Wani killing in a encounter with the security forces on 8th of July would have been a cause for celebration in any other Indian state. However in Kashmir it was absolutely the reverse. Large scale violent protests of people took place there. Massive demonstrations were held with protesters throwing stones on the security personnel's. Pitched battles were held between the public and the security forces in almost every district of Kashmir. Till date 44 civilian deaths have been reported. A large number of police personnel's were injured and a few were killed by the rampaging mob. The state is still under a curfew blanket.

It would be interesting to ask why all this protest for a terrorist who was a leading figure of the terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen. This organisation is headed by Syed Sallaudin who is a guest of Pakistan and his entire outfit is being financed by the Pakistani state. Syed Sallaudin is the chairman of the United Jihad Council and claimed responsibility for the Pathankot attack. Thus it is a Jihadi organisation committed to spread Islamic domination through violence and killings. It has close ties with groups like the LeT, JeM, Taliban and Al-Queda. Together they represent a dreaded conglomeration committed to wage Jihad throughout South Asia. They prey on freedom movements like in Kashmir for achieving their goal of establishing a Caliphate. Unfortunately the Kashmiris are unaware that they are being used by these terrorist organisation. Their sons are being lured into these organisations and are being killed for indulging in terrorist activities. Kashmir real problems like unemployment,education and poverty are not the concern of these terrorist organisation. Even tourism which is the main source of income for the Kashmiris is being destroyed by these terrorists.

It is therefore quite clear that the people of the valley are being harmed by these terrorists and not by the Indian state. The people of Kashmir are on a wrong track. Instead of eulogizing Burham Wani as a hero he should be condemned and his death should be a matter of celebration. The Kashmiris should quote his example to teach their sons that they should not travel his path towards destruction and instead lead a constructive life to bring prosperity and izzat to their families. Let it be made clear that the Indian state would severely deal with terrorists and shoot them dead in the future also.

Today the so called freedom movement is actually a Jihadi movement. Its main stress is on fighting a religious war. The killings of Pandits and there near extinction in Kashmir was a part of it. The attacks on Sufi saints and Dargahs is to eliminate the traditional Sufi Islam of Kashmir and replace it with Wahabism. What surprises is that separatist leaders like Syed Gilani and Mirwaiz Farooq have become key players of this Jihadi syndicate. Recently the Mirwaiz called for Ahmadi's to be declared non-muslims during the Friday khutba. Then is this a freedom movement or a conspiracy to establish a radical Islamic State ?

There is a interesting fact about these so called freedom fighters. There own sons are comfortably settled. Not even one of them has taken to the gun or participated in any protest. It is the sons of other Kashmiri families which they lure and push into violent activities. Salauddin Shah oldest son, Shakeel Yousuf, works as a medical assistant at Srinagar's Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, second son Javed Yousuf works in the Education Department as computer operator, while Shahid Yousuf is a Research Fellow at the Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology. Shah's fourth son, Wahid Yusuf, studies in Sri Maharaja Hari Singh Government Medical College. Mueed Yusuf, the youngest of Shah's sons, is pursuing a higher education degree (M.Tech.). Syed Geelani both sons are safely settled, one in South Delhi and the other in Rawalpindi. Mirwaiz Farooq is married to a fashionable woman who does not even touch naqab.

The entire freedom movement of Kashmir is a big money spinning racket with crores of rupees flowing into the pockets of these so called leaders from Pakistan. Kashmir is part of India both legally and morally and nothing can reverse its final accession to India in 1947. POK on the other hand has been illegally occupied by Pakistan by sending a Jihadi force in 1948. The facts are there to be seen and is part of Kashmir history. Even the referendum has become redundant since the UN resolution clearly states that the entire POK illegally occupied should be first returned to India. This is not possible since Pakistan has already ceded a part of it to China(Gilgit-Baltistan).

So what is the struggle about ? History cannot be reversed and borders cannot be altered. It is only a fantasy which is being played upon the minds of the gullible ordinary Kashmiris.

Not withstanding the above it is the responsibility of the Central Government to reduce tensions in Kashmir and to ensure that the separatists do not succeed in inflaming passion in the valley. Unfortunately the Modi Government is adding fuel to the fire. Across the country a anti Muslim enviourment is being generated by the Sangh Parivar. Issues like cow protection,love jihad,Ram Mandir and various other venomous statements are being issued even by Ministers in the Government. I was shocked to hear Yogi Adityanath( A BJP MP) saying that even dead Muslim women should be raped. The PM of this country has maintained a complete silence and not even once condemned these gruesome statements. This has greatly disturbed the Muslim population of Kashmir which has felt terribly alienated leading to these furious protests. It is time that Modi who is a hardened RSS pracharak realises that he is now head of a family of 1.25 crores people of different faiths. Unless he makes a immediate attempt to come out of his outdated RSS ideology the situation would not only deteriorate but may even spread to other parts of the country.

In the end I would like to congratulate our security forces who are bravely facing these terrorists and confronting these violent protesters who are chasing a mirage. Let it be clear that likes of Wani have to be killed for the safety of Kashmiri people. They are monsters who snatch away innocent lives.

The Kashmiris should be vocal in their denunciation of these bigoted terrorists who want to take away their beautiful valley and convert it into a horrible bigoted Islamic state.

ASHOK KUMAR

TARUSHI AND ISLAMIC KILLERS

 

 

 

 

                                          04.07.16

As I write these lines a plane carrying the dead body of Tarishi is heading for New Delhi from Dhaka. She was a Indian and belonged to Ferozabad. The young and vibrant girl merely 19 years old was killed brutally by Muslim terrorists in Bangladesh. She was studying at the University of California at Berkley and had come to visit her father during summer vacation. Little did she know that her young life would come to an end and all the dreams she had nurtured for the future would never bear fruits.

The Holey Artisan Bakery is a posh restaurant in a posh area of Dhaka visited by the elite for its western delicacies and quaint environment. Dhaka has very few top class restaurants and Holey Artisan Bakery was much sought after by foreigners and the elite of Dhaka. On this particular day three youngsters Tarishi Jain, Faraaz Ayaz Hossain and Abinta Kabir were happily chatting over a cup of tea when suddenly they heard voices shouting 'Allah-O-Akbar' and six terrorists heavily armed entered the cafe. They segregated people sitting there into Muslims and Non-Muslims by telling them to recite verses from the Koran. Somehow the three friends managed to lock themselves in a toilet. They were shivering with fear and dreaded the moment when they would be discovered by the terrorists.

As evening ended the terrorists asked the kitchen staff to prepare food for Iftar which is breaking fast during Ramzan and serve it only to the Muslims.

Night had descended and the news that terrorists have taken hostages spread like wild fire. Bangladesh security forces surrounded the cafe and preparation for the assault began. The special unit was stationed 120 km away at Sylhet and it would take them 2 hours to reach there.

In the dim lights outside Sanjeev Jain father of Tarishi was restlessly pacing the lawns outside the cafe. Time was passing away and there was absolutely no news about what was happening inside. He did not dare to ring his daughter inside because the ringing may betray the place where they were hiding. It was 1.30 AM and there was a ominous silence all around. Suddenly his mobile rang . With a shaking hand he answered it. It was Tarishi. She was weeping and spoke in a shaky voice

"Terrorists have entered the restaurant . I am very afraid and not sure whether I will be able to come out alive. They are killing everyone here." The phone went silent.

Shortly afterwards she was hacked to death together with her two friends.

The incident has shocked the whole world and the following points are necessary for readers to ponder over

1. Allah-O-Akbar means God is great. It is a slogan we often hear before Muslims butcher innocent people. What kind of God the Koran professes which allows such brutal killings of humans in His name ? This is a God or a devil which becomes great when innocent people are slaughtered. I know many Muslims would condemn such acts and would loudly proclaim that Islam does not allow such heinous crimes. That one cannot paint the entire community evil because of such acts of the few. This has been going on for a long time. One section of Muslims kill and the other section prettily sitting in their houses state Islam does not allow this. Somehow this does not click anymore and more and more non-Muslims are becoming convinced that Islam surely has to do something with this. These Muslim terrorists are not born this way. They are meticulously trained in Madrassas and in special camps. They are taught from the Koran and therefore we cannot ignore that Koran does not contain passages which exhorts its followers to resort to violent behavior. Passages that demean non-Muslims already exist in the Koran. The teacher has just to add a bit more spice and it becomes explosive which is eagerly imbibed by young Muslims. Ideas like supremacy of Islam is easily planted in their minds. Now they can kill without any guilt.

The concept of heaven exist in other religions also but it is more or less taken as a concept rather than a concrete place up in the skies. In Islam it is rather foolishly considered as a real place with pretty women giving massage to the faithful after they butcher people and reach paradise. The teachers at the Madrassas and terrorist training camps drill this effectively into the minds of its students. This prepares them to commit suicide easily because they will enter paradise after death.

Islam is creating havoc and chaos in the world. It is therefore time that those who are incharge of Islam seriously think about revising the Koran and weed out all those obnoxious references which kills humanity. Mullahs and Madrassas which preach hatred in the name of Islam should be severely dealt with and known groups of terrorists ruthlessly eliminated.

2. The Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina is sincerely doing her utmost to eliminate Muslim extremism from her country. Under her leadership hundreds of JI leaders and murderers have been hanged. She has a no tolerance policy towards terrorism. After the above terrorist attack she gave the following statement

"While Muslims across the world are observing Ramzan, these militants were killing innocent people. What kind of Muslims are these, who are killing other humans during Ramzan"

A strong statement which shows how certain Muslims have become so devilish that they don't even respect their own religion and commit carnage even during the holy month of Ramzan.

In recent times Hindus,atheists,bloggers are being systemically butchered in the streets of Bangladesh. There seems to be a powerful unseen force which is directing these killings. Who is doing this and for what purpose ?

Bangladesh leaders have pointed their fingers towards the ISI of Pakistan which in collusion with the Jammait-i-Islami is planning all these attacks. They say that Pakistan has not been able to digest the freedom of Bangladesh till now. The Pakistan army together with JI butchered thousands during 1971. This same JI together with its affiliates is continuing its efforts to make Bangladesh reverse its freedom. Arms and support to them is provided to them by Pakistan.

We in India are also victims of Pakistan terrorism. Infact Pakistan is now well know as the breeding ground of terrorists. Recently Imran Khan party PTI has donated Rs 300 million to a madrassa which trains terrorists. Can you imagine this ? This is the same Madrassa which trained Mullah Mansoor head of the Afghan Taliban and was killed in a drone attack. Thousands of  Madrassas are strewn over Pakistan churning out terrorists at a rapid pace. All of them supported by the state and trained by the ISI.

It is time that India and Bangladesh come together and devise a strategy to combat terrorism inside Pakistan. They should hit at the core instead of fighting it erratically .

Terrorism will continue to kill our children unless Pakistan is disintegrated. The US should come to its senses and realise that this snake is ready to bite its hand as well.

Tarishi is no more. Her life has been sacrificed at the altar of terrorism. Let each one of us light one candle in her memory in our house and vow never to bow before Islamic terrorism.

Goodbye Sweetheart. May your soul rest in peace.

ASHOK KUMAR

 



MODI DIPLOMACY & THE NSG KNOT

MODI DIPLOMACY & THE NSG KNOT

 

Mr Modi in his two years tenure has visited more than 30 countries and hugged and embraced countless world leaders. Sadly the sum total of all these efforts have not resulted in any significant gains to the country. He met and hugged Obama 7 times and in return Obama made a provision of a  whopping $804 million assistance package for Pakistan. Additionally the US is going to release $337 million shortly to Pakistan under the Coalition Support Fund. So you see Modi so called much publicised diplomatic efforts has not been able to wean the US from supporting a terrorist state which poses a threat not only to India but to  the entire world.

 Now take Nepal. In the aftermath of the devastating earth quake India provided massive aid to Nepal in the form of supplies,medicines and manpower to mitigate the sufferings of the Nepalese population.This was drummed up internationally in such a manner as if Modi personally saved Nepal from annihilation. Nepal gave a cold shoulder to India and suggested that China also equally contributed. Then what happened ? The relationship between India and Nepal on the issue of its constitution deterioted to such a extent that Nepal threatened to expel our ambassador and cut off all relationship with India. So if Modi could not even handle a small country with which we had centuries old friendly relation than it speaks a lot about his diplomatic skills.

Now we come to China. I still have that image in my mind of Modi entertaining President Xi Jinping on a swing in Ahemdabad. Modi is smiling as if swinging with Xi would stop the assaults which Chinese troops regularly make on the border or it would stop China from scheming with Pakistan to harass India.

 

Now take Italy. A lot of noise was made that the diplomatic skills of Modi at last succeeded in making Italy withdraw its objection to India's entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime paving the way to its becoming a member. What was kept discreet was the fact that Modi permitted the release of the Italian Marines against whom murder charges were pending for this favor. So there was no diplomatic skills involved here but plain and simple mafia like exchange deal. I shudder even to think what would have happened if during the UPA regime the Italians were to be released. The opposition BJP would have blamed Sonia and claimed that the Marines were her relatives or that she has received a hefty bribe from the Italian Government for their release.

Now we look into Modi diplomacy vis-a-vis Pakistan. Modi was in Kabul and was to return to India when it suddenly dawned upon him that Pakistan was a friend par excellence and Nawaz Sharif was his younger sibling. He just dropped on Lahore without any notice and hugged and kissed his younger brother and felicitated him on his birthday. He even gifted a pink Rajasthani turban to him! BJP hailed it as a master diplomatic stroke and Modi chest was further inflated with the measurement touching 62 inches. Then what happened afterwards took away all the euphoria and left India red faced limping with embarrassment. The most secured Pathankot air base was attacked by terrorists from Pakistan and a large number of our soldiers were killed. Instead of retaliating strongly by refusing to enter into any kind of dialogue with Pakistan till terrorists are punished ,Modi decided to go further with his frayed diplomacy. He invited a team from Pakistan to visit Pathankot to investigate with a ISI agent in it. The same ISI who would have probably trained the terrorists ! Then came the final humiliation. Pakistan denied any role in the attack and refused to accept a investigation team from India on a reciprocal basis.

 So this is the actual pathetic results of the much hyped Modi diplomacy. Presently India is desperately trying to gain entry into the 48 member Nuclear Supplier Group. India is seeking membership of NSG to enable it to trade in and export nuclear technology. The entry into the NSG would enable India to trade in nuclear plants to augment its energy starved cities and villages and to run the industrial and manufacturing plants of the present and future. However such a membership requires that the country should be a signatory to the NPT which India is not. It also requires the consent of all the present 48 members of the club. India says that it is not the procedure which is important but the credentials. China has rejected India's claim and have decided to oppose its entry into the NSG. The meeting of the NSG is scheduled on 24th of this month. So let us examine how Modi diplomacy is playing to win China over to its side.

1.Modi went to the US and Obama decided to issue a statement supporting India's bid to enter the NSG. It was easy for Obama to do this knowing well that China will never budge from its stand and therefore such a statement is hardly going to make any difference. It is pertinent to note that Modi did not succeed in convincing Obama to directly talk to President of China which would have had a definite impact on the Chinese. If even after 7 hugs Obama cannot effectively help Modi then obviously the diplomacy has not succeeded well.

2.On 16th of this month Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar secretly visited China to plead for their support. However the Chinese immediately issued a statement reiterating its position that India is not eligible for the membership.

3. On 19th of this month Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj issued a rather bizarre statement that India is not opposed to Pakistan entry to NSG and that China is not opposed to the entry of India to NSG. The first completely negates the stand taken by India till now that Pakistan has a bad nuclear proliferation record since its scientist AQ Khan openly distributed the technology to other countries and thus cannot become a member of NSG. The second is a pathetic attempt to woo China by wagging ones tail knowing well the intransigent stand of the Chinese. On the 20th China snubbed India by stating that the issue of India entry into the NSG is not even on the agenda of the club meeting to be held in Seoul on the 24th ! To rub salt on the wounds Pakistan issued a statement that it has successfully blocked India's entry into NSG.

4. To further humiliate India ,China declared yesterday that Pakistan is not responsible for the proliferation of nuclear technology but AQ Khan was personally responsible. It is like saying that Pakistan has no hand in breeding terrorist and planning terrorist attacks but the terrorist themselves are responsible or that Osama Bin Laden was himself responsible for hiding in Pakistan. There was not even a word from the Foreign Ministry slamming China for making this outrageous statement. So all that the Modi diplomacy on the issue has done till date, is to project India as a spineless nation, ready to lick the boots of both China and Pakistan.

5. Now the focus is on Modi and Xi Jinping meeting in Tashkent on the 23rd.BJP has hyped the meeting informing that Modi with his diplomatic skills would convince the President of China to drop its objections. After all both had a fun time together on the swings at the banks of river Sabarmati. Seeing how ineffective the Modi diplomacy is, it would be hardly surprising to see a rebuff coming from Xi Jinping.

Former Union Minister Arun Shourie once said that Modi suffers from “narcissism” and accused him of running a one-man “Presidential government” in a direction that was “dangerous” for India. This is entirely true. Modi is in love with himself and running a one man show. His diplomacy is created in the solitary confinement of his bedroom. He is averse to consulting experts and intellectuals.

Merely selfies,photo-ops,gesturing and waving hands and hugging world leaders do not constitute diplomacy. Diplomacy is a serious science and requires knowledge and expertise. Modi should realise that he is not running Gujrat but India. So will Modi be able to crack the NSG nut by his brand of diplomacy ? Let us see.

ASHOK KUMAR

22.06.16

BJP Vs JNU                            16.2.16

Jawaharlal Nehru University with its sprawling campus and vast stretches of greenery immediately makes you feel like a free bird. Its towering red stone building with open arches on its periphery instills a thirst for knowledge in the people who enter its portal. Many years back I had the opportunity to visit this distinguished center for learning in connection with some official work. What struck me that learned professors and students interacted like friends. There was a free exchange of ideas. Nothing was labeled as anti -national or seditious. There are no barriers to thinking or formulating ideas. Ideas and expressions cannot be labeled as anti- national. Bright and young students expressed their inner convictions openly. All kinds of streams from leftist to extreme rightist happily co-existed on the JNU campus. It has remained like this for all the years. Suddenly the Hindutva right wing has started to exercise its muscles to smash the independence of Center of learning's in the country.

They felt that unless these liberal and secular streak in our youngsters and in the majority of our citizens are not nipped they would not be able to succeed in their mission to impose their so called superior ideology. Their favorite tool to propagate this ideology of the RSS is nationalism. Nationalism has become a word so cheap that it is peddled now a days at every nook and corner by these self proclaimed nationalists. If you don't subscribe to their Hindutva ideology you are anti national. If you eat beef you are anti national. If you oppose construction of Ram Mandir you are anti national. If you speak for reservations for dalits you are anti national. If you stand for protecting minorities you are anti national. So on and so on. The edict that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel can be best applied to this group.

There are many student Unions on the campus of the JNU. Each have its own ideology. After all these are youngsters and it is natural that they be allowed to express themselves freely. Thoughts should not be suppressed but debated. One of the Union took permission to organise a event on 9th February,16. It was to debate Afzal Guru hanging and Kashmir. So was it anti national ? There are innumerable distinguished persons who have expressed their opinions on these two subjects. Have they all become anti-nationals ? Leave aside these people the PDP which is in power in Kashmir together with BJP demands freedom for Kashmir and questions the hanging of Afzal Guru. So how is that BJP has joined hands with such anti-national people ?

After getting permission from the VC the Union(DSU) was to gather for their programme when just 20 minutes before the ABVP( student wing of BJP) intervened for cancellation of this programme. Why ? If they wanted they could have expressed their views in a separate meeting of their own. Here the intention was to target the students and declare them anti-nationals. JNU for a long time has been known to be anti BJP and most of the students are known for their secular and liberal leanings. This irks the Hindutva right wing the RSS which wants to gate crash and impose its Nazi like dictates. They are fully backed by the state machinery since BJP has come into power.

The ABVP members started raising slogans and in response the opposite party replied with stringent slogans to maintain solidarity among their followers. They were not armed neither they threatened anybody with violence. It was a normal student protest which happens in every university. But here it was clear that the ABVP had a plan to target the DSU and thereby further malign the entire JNU community and the University itself. In this melee some Kashmiri students entered and it was these students who raised seditious slogans. Nobody has caught them but the Delhi police immediately arrested the President Kanahiya Kumar and booked him under sedition charges ! Can you believe it. A student arrested for sedition ? was he inciting violence? No. Was  he and his followers were armed and distributing arms to wage war against the country? No. Was he a member of a secessionist organistion,naxalite or a ISI agent ? No. It is clear that with the BJP in power its different wings are convinced that time has come to impose its ideology over the entire nation. The PM is silent the Home Minister fully endorses the arrest. So the student is still in jail.

What happened to the students who actually raised these seditious slogans? Nobody could be caught till date and nobody belonged to the JNU. Meanwhile under  instructions the Delhi Police raided all the hostels in the campus even women hostels and  its personnel freely roamed the campus.

This is not the first time that a educational institute has been violated by the BJP Government . In the FTTI, Gajendra Chauhan  whose only qualification is that he is a RSS sympathiser was made its head. Subsequently the protest by the students at the FTTI were crushed by the BJP. Then at the Hyderabad University due to pressure exerted by the Education Minister a dalit student Rohith committed suicide. A Cabinet Minister in the center called the University a den of anti-national activities. The same pattern is repeated here at the JNU. The entire JNU is being described as anti-national by the BJP members. A reputed University which has given a number of IAS and distinguished persons to the nation is being destroyed. Instead of constructing new institutions the present Govt is going ahead destroying established institutions.

Let us be clear on one point. Anti-national elements and real separatist are roaming free. There are many in the Kashmir Valley. Syed Gilani,Mirwaiz Farooq,Asiya Andrabi,Yasin Malik and scores of others. Why the patriotic ABVP is not going there and shooting them ? What is preventing them from doing so ? Incidentally a BJP MP O.P.Sharma just said yesterday he would be justified in shooting JNU students for their activities.  Obviously their intention is not to fight anti national elements but to only spread their ugly Hindutva ideology. If they have to kill students, arrest students,penetrate universities so be it.

There is also one more reason for these revolting exercises by the BJP and its various wings. It is to divert people attention from the fact that no development has taken place under Modi for the last nearly 2 years. But they should not forget the Constitution. They should read it again

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:

JUSTICE, social, economic and political;

LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;

EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;

and to promote among them all

FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation

Jai Hind

ASHOK KUMAR