Modi's Challenges

The Indian election of 2014 has astounded many. The surprising thing was not that BJP defeated congress, experts long before elections predicted that this time it will be BJP sarkar and Narendra Modi will be the next Prime Minister. The surprise was the clean sweep of BJP. It is the worst defeat congress ever had its 128 years history.

BJP alone has won 283 out of 543; it required merely 272 seats to form its government in the centre, which means it will not require the support of any unruly coalition partner. It is a plus point for Modi, but still he will have to face problems of great magnitude.

Modi has been elected as Chief Minister of Gujarat for four consecutive times and unquestionably he has proved himself as an efficient administrator. But, this time the situation will be totally different. Being a PM of biggest democracy and second populous country of the world will be much more difficult than being a CM of Gujarat.

He will face internal as well as external challenges.

The internal challenge will be how will deal with the religious minorities. Arguably, he is not in the good list of minorities, especially the Muslims. The memories of communal riots of Gujarat (2002) are still fresh in the minds of liberal Indians. He has been blamed for the mass murder of more than one thousand Muslims. Though, he has denied all the charges but he has not expressed any regrets on the massacre of Muslims. He walked away from the program of Karan Thapar( a prominent Indian journalist) when Mr.Thapar  asked him why he didn’t expressed any regrets on the Gujarat riots.

To be a successful ruler, He has to change his radical views and image and has to become a moderate national leader. Success of his government banks heavily on interfaith harmony in India. A fanatic Hindu Modi will tarnish the soft image of India in the international world and it will also be contrary to the secular constitution of his country. He should work in the framework of his country’s constitution.

To adopt a conciliatory policy towards the minorities will not be easy for him. He will be pressurized by Hindu extremist organizations like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). Both these organizations are close ally of BJP and they are followers of the ideology of Nazism. They want to change India from a secular to Hindu state. Modi started his political career from the Platform of RSS. Modi will have a difficult choice whether to appease minorities or his allies like VHP and RSS. He has to display statesmanship qualities to deal with this situation.

Foreign policy regarding the neighboring countries will test his political maturity. Modi should be aware the cardinal reason of congress defeat is slow growth economy, job scarcity and inflation.  Any hostility with the neighbors will be too costly for him. It can be a stumbling block in the path of economic progress. Business community has invested heavily in Modi and enmity or war with neighbor will annoy the entrepreneurs. Any blunder from Modi can result in the exodus of foreign investors and general masses will again suffer from inflation and unemployment.

He should follow the policy of his predecessor Atal Bihari Vajpayee. During the Vajpayee’s tenure good relations between Pakistan and India was on its peak. Political Pandits are of the view that Modi is now a mature politician and he will follow Vajpayee regarding the foreign policy with Pakistan. But, how will he react if a incident like Mumbai take place. He castigated Ex PM Manmohan Singh for not reacting aggressively against Pakistan.

Modi will have no time for rest. America is withdrawing from Afghanistan latter this year. Among all his challenges, Afghanistan policy will be most formidable challenge for him. India’s major concern in Afghanistan is that if Taliban topple the Kabul regime after US departure, Pakistan again will get strategic depth in Afghanistan and it can export Jihadist to Kashmir and also in Internal India. If this happen, Taliban are able to recapture Kabul then it will be do or die situation for India. Modi will be in a dilemma whether to deploy or not Indian soldiers in Afghanistan in the wake of US withdrawn.

All these challenges will test the leadership capabilities of Modi, only time will tell whether he will overcome these hurdles or not.

 

Who is fuelling insurgency in Balochistan?

The fifth insurgency of Balochistan which started in 2006 in the ground of Dera Bugti has now spread in every nook and corner of the province. For eight long years, security forces have failed to crush Baloch Sarmachars (those Baloch who are ready to give their heads for Baloch cause). The question is why writ of government is declining and power of these insurgents is rising and more importantly who is fuelling these insurgents?

From the narrative of Pakistani Government, foreign countries especially India has been given the bulk of criticism. Apart from India, Afghanistan, Israel and occasionally America have also been blamed for creating unrest in Balochistan. Allegations are merely allegations unless they are proved.  So far Pakistani state hasn’t brought any substantial evidence against any of these countries. A common man is unable to comprehend why these foreign powers will support this insurgency.

The ground reality suggests that instead of foreign countries, people inside Pakistan are responsible for spreading insurgency in Balochistan. The question is who have neglected Balochistan and created sense of deprivation in the heart of Baloch people. Was it America India or Israel who have treated Balochistan as their colony and exploited its resources? It is negligence of Islamabad government which has deprived Baloch of their rights and few leaders accepted this by saying sorry to Baloch masses for their negligence.

The ongoing insurgency, which started in the wake of demise of Akbar Bugti and everyone, knows who assassinated him. He was not killed by any foreign troops, but by security forces of Pakistan. The assassination of a 80 years old Baloch leader aggravated the situation and fuelled the insurgency. The decision of murder of Akbar Bugti didn’t take place in New Delhi, Kabul or Washington rather it was made in Islamabad.  Veteran anchorperson, Kamran Khan was right when he said that “slain Akbar Bugti will be more dangerous than alive Akbar Bugti”.

The stupid Kill and dump has added oil to the fire. Owing to this high handedness policy, the hatred against Islamabad has increased among the general masses. This imprudent policy has convinced Baloch that they have no future in Pakistan and ideology of Baloch separatists’ fighters has gained strength.  This unwise strategy has convinced the hoi polloi that Sarmachars are fighting a just war with the occupying forces.

Policy makers are repeating the same mistakes and they are still fuelling the insurgency. On 18 April, 2014 Chairman of Baloch Student Organization (Azad) Zahid Baloch was abducted from Quetta and he is still missing. Those who are involved in his abduction should fathom that killing of Akbar Bugti, Balach Marri and Ghulam Muhammad Baloch have not suppressed the movement, so, will the picking and killing of Zahid Baloch will end their struggle? It will again fuel the insurgency.

In reaction of this incident, Latif Johar, a member of central committee of BSO(Azad) and who is just 23 years old is sitting on Hunger Strike till death since 22 April, 2014 demanding the release of his leader. The valor of the young boy should be extolled, but there are few chances that his demand will be fulfill. It seems the fate of Latif Johar will be same as that of Bobby Sands , who was the member of Irish Republican Army and died of a Hunger strike in a country which is considered the mother of democracy United Kingdom.  

The response of the government and so called national media to the peaceful protest of Latif Johar is the same. No minister neither from national nor provincial assembly has visited the hunger strike camp of Johar and mainstream media has given very little coverage. The health of Johar is deteriorating and it seems that he will die soon and with his demise the insurgency will be further fuelled.

 Before Latif Johar, Mama Qadeer walked 2500 Km as a protest to release missing persons, but not even a single person was released. Same will happen again with Johar’s protest. After his death Baloch people will contemplate that peaceful and democratic protest is futile in this undemocratic country. As a result more people will be influenced by the ideology of Baloch separatists that armed struggle is the only option in this state.

The elected PM Nawaz Sharif is powerless to do anything on this issue, but those who have power they could hear the voice of young Latif Johar, who said” I can’t kill or torture any one because my organization has taught me humanity but it is my right to do whatever I want to do with myself. I am torturing myself for the release of my leader”. But they will never hear him because humanity is a extinct word in their dictionary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definition of a Traitor in Pakistan

Pakistani society is a divided and confused society. They are confused about everything. After 67 years of independence, general masses still wonder that creation of Pakistan was a right decision or not. Pakistan’s relation with America is as old as its creation, but still people are not sure whether US is our foe or confidant. There is perplexity regarding negotiating with Taliban. Moreover, there is also confusion on the definition of traitor in Pakistan.

As compared to civilized world, definition of a traitor is totally opposite in this bizarre country.

Anyone who says that Pakistan should be a welfare state rather than a security state. He is labeled as a traitor. A welfare state in which children should get free schooling, free health care facility for every person, salary for the jobless people. This idea of a welfare state which is according to the interest of common people but it is contradictory to the interest of a specific group and this group for the sake of protecting its own interest has termed the proponent of welfare state theory as traitor.

If someone talks about amiable relation with India, he also gets the certificate of a traitor. Bulk of the budget is spent on defense and reason given for this spending is hostile relations with India. Friendly relation with India will cut the defense budget and can be used for development projects which are so badly needed in this underdeveloped country. Apart from this, India is the second largest population of the world; even the super powers want the market access of India. Trade with the neighbor next door can boost the weak economy of Pakistan and it will bring prosperity for the people on both sides of the border, but normal relation with India will undermine the importance of a particular lobby. So, to show their significance among masses  they issue certificate of traitor to those who talk about friendly with India.

Demanding what is your constitutional right also comes in the category of a traitor. Going back to the history, Bengalis asked for their rights and they were declared as traitors and one million of them were butchered and it resulted in breakup of East Pakistan into Bangladesh. Baloch masses who since the inception of Pakistan have been demanding their just constitutional rights have been declared as enemy of the state and agent of RAW and MOSSAD.

Anyone who dares to speak for the religious minorities he is termed as a traitor. Pakistan which was created on the ideology of Islam and to speak for the minorities is against the ideology of this Islamic state.

These definitions of traitor fit well in the context of Hamid Mir. He always spoke for harmonious relation with India. He always gave fair coverage to Baloch missing person cases who are victim of hatred and brutalitay by the establishment. He raised his voice for Shia Hazara minority.

It seems that humanity is lost in the country of 200 million people. Hamid Mir who received six bullets and is in hospital fighting between life and death, his opponents have started their campaign against Mr. Mir on streets and social media. People are calling him as an Indian agent and spokesperson of Baloch Freedom Fighters.

It is common for the journalist and politicians belonging to smaller provinces to get the title of a traitor. Hamid Mir is the second Punjabi journalist who has got this title. The first Punjabi journalist who got the certificate of traitor was his father Late Waris Mir. Like his son Mr.Waris Mir also spoke for the oppressed nations and minorities. He warned that military operation in East Pakistan will break Pakistan. The authority concerned paid no heed to his judicious words and massacred innocent Bengalis and outcome of this atrocity was East Pakistan Debacle.

Those who were responsible for East Pakistan Debacle were held accountable but people like Mr. Waris Mir were given the blame for this catastrophe. Hamid Mir like his father has always warned the establishment that army operation in Balochistan will result in another East Pakistan Debacle. But, they have learnt nothing for their past follies.

Hamid Mir is very unfortunate because he belong to a country where people can’t differentiate between a traitors and patriots .Here those who abrogate constitution and derail the democracy are the sole patriots.