India marked its 73rd Independence Day this August 15. For every country, a sacred day like this is an occasion to look back, reappraise one’s achievements and problems, and then go in for a reset wherever required.
A major reset this time was the withdrawal of special status given to the Jammu & Kashmir after it decided to merge with the Indian Union following the country’s independence from the British in 1947. Pakistan was carved out of the British India at the same time, on religious grounds although its founder, Mr Muhammed Ali Jinnah, had professed freedom for all regions. Three days before his country’s independence, he had said in the Pakistani constituent assembly: “You are free, free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other places of worship in this state of Pakistan ….. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed — that has nothing to do with the business of the state.”
Unfortunately, he died of TB within a year. One after the other, Pakistani leaders abrogated his thoughts, and the only religion they have adopted is Terrorism.
Terrorism against India, Terrorism against Afghanistan, and if you consider incidents like the 9/11 massacre in New York, then Terrorism against the world as well.
The Pakistani military, which is the biggest political party in Pakistan, has been attacking India through wars and terrorism to seek control over Kashmir and link with China. It wants control over Afghanistan for what Pakistani leaders themselves described as strategic depth.
Pakistanis are good people, and I knew many of them when I lived in the UAE. In fact, I hosted the famous – and my favourite – ghazal maestros Mehdi Hasan and Ghulam Ali along with my Pakistani friends, who by being Muslims, could not get liquor. We teamed howsoever required. Whiskey, wines and beer were my responsibility, and I was privileged to share the joy of listening to these two great singers.
I am occasionally baffled as to why the Pakistani military leadership does not give up its dream of a greater Pakistan, and let the people of its country live in peace with prosperity.
I was once asked by a UAE minister as to why India would not agree on plebiscite in Kashmir. My answer was that this question can come only after Pakistan vacates the parts of Kashmir it has occupied by violence and force. HE AGREED.
My observation here is not about constitutional angles, but the fact is, India’s liberal system has only encouraged Pakistan to continuously needle and attack us, and the murder of some 40 troops by Pakistani terrorists at Pulwama this year was a call for a Reset.
The Government’s decision to bifurcate the state and declare them as Union Territories with direct control of the central Government was a Reset that was required.
Enough is enough.
– Gulshan Rai Luthra
