In Pakistan’s polity, if so much depends on the moods and whims of the army, I wonder why does Pakistan call itself a democratic republic? This is plainly a case of rule by the army, with the Parliament and PM acting as fronts or facade. Fortunately, India is not in the habit of keeping all its eggs in one basket, as Pakistan has done in the past.
The best thing the Indian government can do is govern all Indian (including Muslims and Kashmiris) justly, and with an even hand. One law must apply the same way to everything and everyone.
This means bringing fake police and army encounters to an end, and punishing perpetrators as murderers. It means appealing the CBI acquittal in the Babri Masjid demolition case. (Sure, built a temple. But don’t wilfully close your eyes to the evidence — the CBI verdict is shameful because it makes ‘Satyamev Jayate’ a lie).
It means reopening the Samjhauta Express blast investigation. (Who killed those poor people?) It means the Maharashtra state government stops selectively persecuting Kangana on buildings in Mumbai. It means the MP government cannot keep people without bail for cracking jokes.
And let us speak for and aid persecuted non-citizens – whether Uighur, Tibetan, Baloch, Ahmadiyya or Kurdish; or peaceful Saudi dissidents – on principal. But let us be careful to do so without encouraging bloodshed. The state has a monopoly on violence, so let us keep our police and military actions focussed inward within our borders, except for emergencies. Let us revamp our judiciary by employing judges on contract and implementing mandatory broadcasting and online archival of all judicial actions and documents. Our judiciary is now beyond ineffectual; increasingly, a scent of corruption and bias can be sensed from it — this is a fearful outcome for any nation.
Once we put our house in order, then we can look outward: I hope both humbly, but with confidence. The economy will boom. Infiltration in Kashmir will change from militancy to economic migrants queuing for ‘blue cards’. Pakistan will request agreement on Kashmir in return for economic preferences. Turkey will ask for business. China won’t be the same insulting neighbour it is today.
If we fail to set our house in order, we risk following the worst examples of our neighbourhood. Not only will our country suffer internally, our diplomatic efforts will largely be us punching the air.
In Pakistan’s polity, if so much depends on the moods and whims of the army, I wonder why does Pakistan call itself a democratic republic? This is plainly a case of rule by the army, with the Parliament and PM acting as fronts or facade. Fortunately, India is not in the habit of keeping all its eggs in one basket, as Pakistan has done in the past.
The author cannot think and write beyond Pak Army. The content in this column by her creates more confusions than explaining even a single issue.
The best thing the Indian government can do is govern all Indian (including Muslims and Kashmiris) justly, and with an even hand. One law must apply the same way to everything and everyone.
This means bringing fake police and army encounters to an end, and punishing perpetrators as murderers. It means appealing the CBI acquittal in the Babri Masjid demolition case. (Sure, built a temple. But don’t wilfully close your eyes to the evidence — the CBI verdict is shameful because it makes ‘Satyamev Jayate’ a lie).
It means reopening the Samjhauta Express blast investigation. (Who killed those poor people?) It means the Maharashtra state government stops selectively persecuting Kangana on buildings in Mumbai. It means the MP government cannot keep people without bail for cracking jokes.
And let us speak for and aid persecuted non-citizens – whether Uighur, Tibetan, Baloch, Ahmadiyya or Kurdish; or peaceful Saudi dissidents – on principal. But let us be careful to do so without encouraging bloodshed. The state has a monopoly on violence, so let us keep our police and military actions focussed inward within our borders, except for emergencies. Let us revamp our judiciary by employing judges on contract and implementing mandatory broadcasting and online archival of all judicial actions and documents. Our judiciary is now beyond ineffectual; increasingly, a scent of corruption and bias can be sensed from it — this is a fearful outcome for any nation.
Once we put our house in order, then we can look outward: I hope both humbly, but with confidence. The economy will boom. Infiltration in Kashmir will change from militancy to economic migrants queuing for ‘blue cards’. Pakistan will request agreement on Kashmir in return for economic preferences. Turkey will ask for business. China won’t be the same insulting neighbour it is today.
If we fail to set our house in order, we risk following the worst examples of our neighbourhood. Not only will our country suffer internally, our diplomatic efforts will largely be us punching the air.