Alarums And Diversions

I don’t think it was a good idea for democrats to close ranks with the ruling party in the present situation.The country definitely wants victims of terrorism to be avenged,but not a full scale war.Even now Pakistan has taken care not to aim its shells and drones at important cities in the interior and its armies have not crossed the border.If in the name of a superior response we inflict major damage on its military targets it will be pushed into mounting a proportionate counter to save face and satisfy its people.India could also exploit the differences between its civil and military leaders.Our countrymen will be happy if terrorists realize there is a price to pay for their ghoulish atrocities.There is no pressing need to push the country down the cliff
to an uncertain and rocky terrain.

Our democrats are naive to think that the upsurge of patriotic sentiments will so puriify and ennoble the souls of the rulers as to make them abandon their long-cherished plans.The patriotism they understand and support is that of light-headed lumpenized youths who go marching down the road to close Muslim shops and a burst their lungs with venomous curses against the enemy.Any far-sighted and cool-headed handling of conflicts would seem to be a far cry.

Meanwhile news comes that the online news website The Wire, known for its generally informed and careful examination of critical political issues, has been blocked.One does not know if only a current issue or the website itself. It is downright absurd to claim it is subversive of national security.Actually it fits the familiar formula that whatever it says in reasoned criticism of the powers that be is bound to be a danger to national security.The country’s security,they forget,is not the same thing as the leader’s poise.

The democratic parties must condemn in one voice this attempt to throttle sane opinion with insane control.What the country needs under these circumstances is INFORMED observation and analysis.Merely serving rosy pictures on TV screens of infallible national triumph on n the lines of comic strip heroes little befits an adult nation.

We have all seen how News Click had been shuttered by a senseless but calculated legal harassment.The step with the Wire is much more blatant and brazen,as if there is no room for reasoned dissent in the cacophony of hollow back-slapping jingoism.

In fact the idea that in an hour of crisis all parties should lay aside their differences to unite in the country’s interest could well be a ploy to pull the wool over the unsuspecting allies ‘ eyes. What if it disarms their suspicions as the elder brother pursued his own interests and garnered credit for real and fictive victories? Indeed the party has organised victory rallies in several places to extoll the leader’s acumen and capacity for decisive action.

It was indeed portentous that he had deliberately missed the all-party meeting for a far less important engagement. Failed to turn up at the second meeting too.And this at a moment of grave challenge to security and sovereignty of the country.It could also be seen as a deplorable breach of ceremonial courtesy. Further it seems to signal that a leader of a democratic country can choose to cut himself loose from all commitments to other constitutional bodies and forums. As in Manipur there is no apology or explanation.An exceptional freedom from all responsibilities and obligations conceivable under a constitution.

Mallikarjun Kharge has rightly let his vexation show.He also reveals a puzzling fact.Three days before the massacre there had been an intelligence alert on some threat to Kashmir which prompted a hurried change of schedule for the leader.But then,why weren’t the security of tourists enhanced?He wanted an explanation,so went reports.Or was there any chance of more disconcerting questions emerging if he was in attendance? No one knows.

Meanwhile there were serious contradictions between reports on the same events on native and foreign media.Were the Pakistan air defence systems demolished or not?Had at least one Raphael fighter plane been shot down or not.Not everybody is dumb enough to be persuaded by howls on the tamed media.Should not the opposition leaders at least be told the truth?Then what good is there in unity if it leads not to enlightenment but mystification?

And how will mistakes in priorities and strategies be brought to light and corrected? The opposition must put their foot down and demand responsible management of the country’s affairs.No amount of blather can excuse such evasion. Are we being driven to irresponsible government in the name of unity? There must be answers,and not an hour too soon.

Hiren Gohain is a political commentator