The New Year has begun on a sour note with the attack on the Pathankot Airbase in Punjab by suspected terrorists on a mission to destroy our strategic assets. While the attackers were neutralised after an intense combing operation, we also lost six of our men and once again it has become evident that our neighbour Pakistan has not been able to rein in terrorists operating from safe havens in that country. India’s response this time around has been direct and all the necessary proof has been handed over to Pakistan for immediate action at their end as the handlers in this operation as in the Mumbai attacks, were all ensconced on Pakistani soil. With the US also coming out strongly against the attacks and with the US Secretary of State John Kerry calling on Pakistani Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif to investigate and bring the culprits to book, Pakistan is now on tenterhooks as it can only play ducks and drakes with India and not with a superpower like the US on which it is dependant both for financial and military assistance. While there is hope that Pakistan will finally see reason, it is now imperative for us to beef up our intelligence network and safeguard our borders by thwarting all efforts to create tension.
Meanwhile, the ‘intolerance’ debate rages on and the Central government and all those on the other side including writers, playwrights, rationalists and the opposition are still not on the same page. The government has been sticking to its stand that intolerance is a non-issue and is nothing more than a bogey created by those who are inimical to the ruling party. The stubbornness only seems to indicate that all those leaders in the ruling coalition who have been raising controversial issues and creating unwarranted tension among communities will continue to be given a free run. Issues like the construction of the Ram Mandir are highly sensitive and have the capacity to drive a wedge between communities. The obligation is squarely on the government to dispel all doubts in the minds of those who belong to the minority communities that their interests will be jeopardised in any manner. Towards this end it should pull up all its leaders who seek to queer the pitch with their vituperative statements that could rouse passions and foment unrest.
The spate of farmers’ suicides due to impoverishment caused by successive droughts and crop failures is a depressing scenario in several states across the country, and though the onus to provide succour is on the respective states, the Central government too should do its mite to ameliorate the suffering of agriculturists whose interests should be safeguarded at all costs.
The unseemly scenes in both the houses of Parliament and the number of hours lost due to the din has again resulted in a delay in passing vital bills that could have a far reaching impact on the economy. Derailing the development agenda of the government is not going to benefit anyone, and it is high time the opposition which seems hell-bent on creating chaos and mayhem in the houses realises that disruptions only create more problems, and solutions can only be found through healthy debates. The treasury benches too should ensure that their ranks do not create controversies or rake up matters that could lead to frayed tempers and consequent friction in Parliament. It is unfortunate that despite the existence of a vigilant media that unfailingly highlights the unruly behavior of members, there has been no perceptible improvement, and the recent monsoon session at the Upper House where the ruling coalition is in a minority and transacted very little business, is a case in point.
Every nation faces challenges and India is no exception. What is vital is that we should unitedly fight these challenges and overcome the problems in the true nationalist spirit.
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C. V. Aravind
C. V. Aravind is a Bangalore-based freelance journalist.[/column]