Mubarak Ali Baloch
A couple of days back Indian Air Force base at Pathankot came under attack. Armed attackers sneaked inside the installation while wearing army uniforms as claimed by Indian security forces. Precursor to airbase attack some unidentified armed culprits had snatched official car of Superintendent of Police Gurdaspur Salwinder Singh on Pathankot-Jammu highway. Indian security forces making relevance between these two incidents. Armed attackers shot dead eleven security personnel including one lieutenant colonel rank officer. The latter died; as per Indian media while defusing an explosive device planted by the attackers. Initially operation was declared to have reached its culmination after 48 hours. Later security forces encircled a residential compound of IAF (Indian Air Force) saying that two armed men took positions inside the compound. Thus armed encounter more or less continued for about three days and finally security forces spokesman stated to have neutralized all the attackers. Though not without suffering loss of lives. Days long operation to neutralize armed miscreants badly exposed the poor preparedness of Indian security forces.
Contrary to usual cheap practice this time Indian leadership has not cast aspersion on Pakistan so far. Though some muted indications show that Pakistan is not being absolved of. To create anti-Pakistan feelings and exploit the same Indian leadership as a routine has been leveling accusations against Pakistan for almost any armed encounter with miscreants in India. However, Pakistan foreign office has condemned armed persons attack on airbase. Spokesman went on further vowing to help India in its investigations if need arises. As a matter of fact Pakistan being the victim of terrorism is unhappy over this untoward incident. Such terrorism that also not far from its border is likely to make miscreants challenging security forces in Pakistan more audacious in their aggressive attitude. Analysts believe that BJP’s (Bhartiya Jannata Party) belligerent attitude when it comes to handling communal divide in India is probably making marginalized segments of Indian population more aggressive and insurgency prone. Like forcible conversion of minority population into Hindu, beef ban politics, rape of nuns and persecution of Christians, demolition of Muslims’ religious places and raising temples in their place etc are the activities of Hindu fanatics to cow down the minorities. The latter have been frequently raising their dissenting voice. Hindu fanaticism is getting virulent in the face of some BJP’s cabinet members recent hate statements asking Muslims to go to Pakistan if need beef to eat. Or labeling Muslims as traitors and pro-Pakistan etc. In the face of this the freedom movements (said to be over a dozen) in India are being joined or ideologically supported by people being marginalized due to Hinduization of the country.
Therefore armed struggle be in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) or elsewhere in India is getting strength. Armed attack on Pathankot airbase is to be taken in the backdrop of such bitter feelings taking place due to RSS mentored BJP led government’s anti-minority policies and attitudes. People of IOK are persecuted and young generation is being decimated or being dungeoned without ray of hope for a fair trial. No any house/family stands safe or unharmed as far as Indian security forces’ persecution in IOK goes. One can hardly expect from such a population to wish good for Indian security forces or for that matter for India as a country. Rather despondency compels such youngsters to offer themselves to be used as weapon against India. Indian leadership must mull over the situation and set its own house in order before finding faults hither and thither. In fact India must seek the solution to Kashmir imbroglio as determined in UN Resolution so that this problem stands resolved once and for all. Whereas on the other hand the wave of Hindu fanaticism should end as the huge population of minority cannot be ignored or wished away in this way.
A couple of days back RSS (Rashtriya Sevak Sangh) gathered its Swayamsevaks in large number in Pune (Maharashttra). Participants were addressed by Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of outfit. The massive show of strength is aimed to encourage BJP and ilk to continue with their extremist policies and postures. RSS hardliners putting on Khaki shorts, white shirts and black hats showing of alacrity and physical agility tinged with the touch of bellicosity can further turn the people hardliner and extremist. Therefore Prime Minister Narendra Modi must review its policies hurting minorities or being disliked by non-Hindu population. Bringing demographic changes to reduce Muslim majority into minority as is being attempted in IOK where Hindu Pandits with their followers are being settled cannot work. Indian government must ponder over the existing ruffled and abrasive texture of India’s social fabric and efforts may be made to help generate the sense; amongst the minorities of being owned at State level. This would go a long way in deradicalizing Indian society. Otherwise marginalized youth population (minorities) would carry forward its explosive outlook unleashing its outburst in any shape across the country.
