DR. JOE D’SOUZA
In case of war, it is always the soldiers who die and often civilians who are targeted to be killed, to boost the number of causalities and damage done by the enemy. This is how wars and the war of words spell out during any combat situation. All in all, nations and societies at large suffer acutely; moral, political, economic, social and even spiritual damage when war rages.
This article is directed to pay tribute to war widow Mita Santra, whose husband was killed in the Pulwama suicide attack by terrorists. The death of Bablu Santra the CRPF jawan, did not deter Mita from sending a strong message to Narendra Modi to forget about playing dirty politics over the deaths of the jawans and forcing innocent soldiers to sacrifice themselves by attacking Pakistan, instead of rooting for a peace process involving dialogue and interactions.
Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan did not sound the war bugles. BJP leader of Karnataka Yedurappa made it clear when he said that the Balakot attack by India would help BJP garner 23 of the 28 parliamentary seats. Here in Goa, Panjim BJP leader Siddarth Kunkalienkar, announced a motorcycle rally through Panaji on 1st March hailing the so-called successful gunning down of 350 terrorists at Balakot in Pak-occupied sector of Kashmir.
Thankfully, no bystanders were killed in the air strike as villagers in the sector found bombs and missiles scattered in fields and open spaces. That the Indian Air Force did not wish to harm people and incur human casualty was spelt out clearly by S.S. Aluwallia a few days ago.
However, celebrations in Goa and elsewhere across the country must be condemned.
In a wise stroke of statesmanship, not only did Imran Khan make the crucial decision to release with honour Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, but very interestingly took two steps forward to call on Modi to plead with him that “terrorists and terrorism” are evils from which Pakistan and India are the joint victims.
We have terrorists in larger numbers across India, which we are unable to handle and eliminate and blaming Pak-based terrorist groups for each and every attack within India speaks volumes of Modi’s hypocrisy.
Like India, Pakistan too is a democracy and hence the judicial process should be put to action to legally punish the terrorists. Can we recall how Ajmal Kasab received five star treatment in the Indian jail before we hanged him as per the Court’s order after years of trials?
India and Pakistan are not banana republics and the politicians have to go back to the people if they have to come back to power. Imran Khan knew fully well that the fascists in the Saffron brigade would drum up support through the pseudo nationalists in the BJP, by provocation and deceit of the Indian voter, in the garb of eliminating terrorism through the surgical strikes and win votes of the Indian common man, who is ignorant that wars do not kill terrorism but instead it is the country’s jawans, civilians and the economy that is adversely affected.
Fortunately in Goa, we have extremely sensible press and the media did everything possible to ensure that Goans were not pumped up into a war hysteria. But sadly, national TV channels were whipping up BJP politicians to act decisively to end terrorism on Indian soil by attacking and blaming Pakistan, without giving the dossiers, which are required to be shared by the two warring nations.
Siddarth Kunkalienkar, the present stalwart of the saffron brigade, did two things of amusement and deceit “ he prepared and burnt an effigy of Chellakumar and used his energies to kick and burn the Congress leader, and promoted and carried out a bike rally shouting victory signs of the surgical strike. Was he trying to pressurise Modi to go in for more such attacks on the people of Pakistan? This would have invariably damaged our soldiers and the civilians, who are both peace loving entities of India.
Now that the wicked motive of the BJP strategy was exposed over social media by Mita Santra, inspite of her being trolled and abused by the bhakts in the saffron brigade, it is time to stand by this war widow as saffronites in the garb of nationalism try to eliminate her genuine appeal for peace.
Goans must also by wary of BJP’s dirty tricks. As I write this, Panjim is not getting regular water supply. Pipelines are corroded, and the water supply department is in total mess. This newspaper even exposed how water supplied to Panjim and Goa is contaminated and scarce.
When I brought this serious issue of water contamination by sewage as well as iron oxide besides the non-availability of water supply to central Panjim, to the attention of Siddarth Kunkalienkar, he told me that I would have to seek solutions from the Panjim corporators.
With severe problems of pollution due to inactive GSPCB and PWD in Goa supplying scarce and contaminated water, the war mongering cries of the BJP seem very appropriate for the saffronites to come back to power along with their altar boys by directing the attention of the public from the main issues that are adversely affecting the residents everyday. The BJP jhumlas are thus many, but unfortunately, the Congress is so far unable to capitalize on this issue. Let us wait and watch, as elections draw close.
