Shiban Khaibri
That most of the politicians in our country feel inclined to go to any extent when it comes to the issue of ”vote”, has incessantly been watched by us on numerous occasions . Those who try to separate Hindutva from Hindu religion, metaphorically but vain fully like trying to separate water from the milk by filtration, decantation etc , even using the unwarranted and uncalled for rhetoric and vowing to ”finish” Hindutva , have been spotted during approaching election days paying (let us not say feigning) obeisance at many a temple wearing even Bagwa attire . These leaders think that the followers will get emotionally impressed to vote for them and their parties overwhelmingly . In this also, even the obeisance paying is both qualified and selective like they will not visit Ayodhya even after being invited by the Shree Ram Mandir Temple Board management. We have seen a new trend now for quite some time. Come elections and start slandering Sanatan Dharma and hunt for, even manufacture what they call “inequalities” in the ancient most religion of the world- The Sanatan Dharam – and start milking it for votes. The other is keeping on routinely attacking the RSS and projecting it as the extreme personification of all that is “bad” in their eyes . You will never find them speaking a word against the widely known terror organisations most of whom have been bleeding India for over 40 years. Yet another trend is crying for “constitution in danger” and strongly vouching for Jati- ganna as if , once who are in which caste and how many castes exist are all known , some magic wand will be put into operation to make these castes economically and politically more strong even though Nehru, Indira Ji , Rajiv Ji etc have all opposed dividing people into castes . Not aspiring for a casteless society but a deep rooted hard core castiest one is primarily to keep people divided as this suits their electoral fortunes only after the appeasement factor.
We have seen How only a few months ago a few DMK leaders openly and repeatedly insulted Sanatan Dharam comparing it with HIV, leprosy, Dengue , Malaria etc ”needing ” to be destroyed. However, since elections to the TN assembly are approaching , the DMK government is embarking upon consecrating of 41 ancient Hindu temples. A glaring instance of election related compulsions which if termed as “Ballot Bhakti ” will not be any overstatement. Look at Bihar and see how you can now redefine the term “Appeasement” as its structure and its nurturing are being seen undergoing tremendous transformation. Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 a product of a due constitutional framework has come handy for being opposed with promises of “consigning it to the dust bin ” once elected to power. We recently saw a good gathering of thousands of people at Gandhi Maidan Patna organised by Imarat-e- Sharia (Bihar, Odisha and Jarkhand) against the said amendment to the Waqf Act .
Well, any aggrieved citizen has right to protest but it is amazing how political parties like the RJD, Congress, Samajwadi Party, AIMIM etc extended their support to the main organisers of the massive rally where Tejaswi Yadav the CM candidate of the opposition promised no implementation of the Act and to consign the Act passed by the Parliament to dust bin . The opposition, thus puts vote Bank and appeasement politics above the national interests while feigning high respect for our constitution. Earlier yet again we saw the level and the quality of political discourse stooping to such lows as to publicly charge the Prime Minister of 140 crore people of this country , the largest democracy of the world , with the cheap jibe of “surrender” in a very successful ”Operation Sindoor,” is really a matter of concern. It is really unfortunate that when there is a national resurgence across the country , such a phrase should be coined to try to invert the facts and the reality of the ground situation. It , therefore, needs , in unequivocal terms , to be condemned and denounced, ab-initio. And while publicly delivering the jibe , to scornfully lay stress on the word “Narender” and even not on “Narendra” to synchronise with the rhythm , again , shows the real intentions and the levels of decency in conveying things even of such a serious magnitude. For levelling charges of such a nature, political sagacity and propriety , the element of truth, decorum, logic, sincerity and the purpose must inalienably be the filtration points to be passed through and cleared as also making a self appraisal of whether one and one’s party had an impeccable track record in the likes of the concerned matter. The memory of the people , let it be assumed, may be short but decidedly , it cannot be as much short as not to recall the train of goofs, inactions, failures and many a non performance during the punctuated period of 1947 to 2013. There could, agreeably be a few thereafter too but the degree and the quantum may be comparatively few and far between rather increasingly sparing.
The undaunted process of ” research”, and even creating and manufacturing issues out of nothing to create an unpleasant and confusing atmosphere is now being routinely seen being indulged in by a few political parties , mainly Congress, the basic main aim being to discredit the present dispensation so that at least ”next time” , some electoral gains may be expected by them. Adequately needed the CAA, Demonetisation, Land Acquisition Bill, Farm Laws, GST, Triple Talaq, scrapping of Article 370, Waqf Amendment Bill, NRC, NPR and the list is long — have got to be opposed, tooth and nail. The reasons are obvious. Yog or the “Yoga” as it is popularly called, the ancient Indian message and way of attaining on regular basis, absolute physical and mental fitness , too was opposed and even mocked even though the United Nations adopted it in the year 2014 on June 21 as International Day of Yoga. In short, anything and everything initiated by this government , even if of absolute reformative need and national requirement , must be found fault with , opposed , ridiculed, mocked and presented in a distorted manner to create an air of suspicion , confusion, doubts and , yet claiming to be victims of an “undeclared emergency” and where “dissent is suppressed” and where “democracy was in danger requiring intervention of American and other European countries”.
Let it be ascertained as to whether the remark – “Narender- Surrender” of such a low taste has met with any credibility among the general public or in other words , has the wholly avoidable and increasingly immature remark found any takers among the public in the country . Well, surveys conducted by various TV Channels have revealed total rejection of this narrative to the extent of by over 88% people . It is felt that the jibe against Prime Minister Narendra Modi , in fact, is tantamount to cast aspersions on our armed forces, their strength, capabilities, valour , high professionalism and conducting of operation sindoor with enviable absolute precision . It is because never on earth , Congress Party and its present leaders would give any sort of credit to the Prime Minister by saying that “armed forces did it” but when so called “surrender” is there, it is the prime Minister who did it . What a paradox and an element of heterogeneous juxtaposition ?
Even within the Congress party many leaders may never give their acquiesce for issuing such statements carrying lot of sensitivities in respect of the honour, security and defence of the country and equally doing no good to the concept of healthy criticism in a democratic set up, nor to the Congress party in itself . The country’s delegation of MPs on a diplomatic move to explain India’s position worldwide had veteran Congress leaders like Shashi Tharoor, Salman Khurshid, Manesh Tiwari and one feels delighted how these politicians, setting aside political differences , talked India, represented India and spoke on behalf of India .It will not be out of place to mention that the contribution of Dr. Shashi Tharoor in this context has been exemplary . Likewise, Assad-ud-Din Owasi of the AIIMM, Abhishek Bannerjee of the TMC, Priyanka Chaturvedi of the UBT and other leaders spoke in one forceful voice against Pakistan sponsored terrorism, supported and justified Operation Sindoor and backed the central government in the entire gamut of avenging the Pahalgham massacre of innocent Hindus . The repulsive quip of “Narender Surrender” by Rahul Gandhi may, therefore, put Congress party in an introspection as it may not help it anymore in any way .
Pakistan that tasted very bitter and received very hard blows out of the operation Sindoor , is redeemed and virtually “exonerated” by such statements and, therefore, has officially been quoting such leaders and parties to substantiate that not Pakistan but India surrendered . Pakistan played it to the hilt peddling that it was the Pakistani military strength and not India’s dominance and strategic restraint that ”compelled” New Delhi to declare a cease-fire. How much is it true and how much does it disturb emotionally the patriotic Indians can be visualised.
Prior to it, the intentionally raised query of “how many fighter planes we lost” in the Operation is conspicuous of the same mindset which at the time of Balakot and Uri operations , were demanding the ” proof “. Has any leader in Russia asked Putin how many jet fighters were lost or by anyone to Zelenskyy of Ukraine about how many losses in men and material suffered. Did anyone in America question Trump or did a single soul in Israel question Netanyahu or did anyone in Iran question Khamenei about what was the official version about the recent conflict between Iran and Israel? Are matters related to defence of the country required to be taken so casually and discussed in the open raising doubts and questions? Concern for votes, vote bank and winning elections should not cross boundaries of constitutional and democratic niceties.
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