Omkar Dattatray
India is the largest democracy of the world but democratic functioning and liberal working of country should not be taken as a weakness of the democratic system. Democracy is a store house of power only if democratic institutions are working in accordance with the highest ideals of the democracy, but unfortunately our democracy is taken as a sign of weakness by enemies of the country and anti social elements. India is suffering from the scourge of terrorism and terrorism from the last over three decades and the country is fighting the menace of terrorism with determination and grit. However, it is very disturbing and unfortunate that some political parties are becoming a stumbling block in Government’s fight against terrorism. It is alleged by people and BJP that Congress is busy in glorification of the terrorists in order to appease the minorities of country. Congress party has soft approach for terrorists and terrorism and in the process its leaders are glorifying the terrorists for the sake of gaining Muslim votes, but fact is that the Congress is the grand old party of the country and its leaders have played dominant and significant role in the country’s freedom struggle. More than any other party, it is the Indian National Congress whose hundreds of leaders sacrificed their precious lives for freedom of the country from the British yoke and therefore it is the party which has fought the freedom struggle more than anyone else. Congress of today is different from the Congress of the yore and plays in the hands of the enemies of nation and even not feels shy to glorify terrorists, who are the enemies of the country. No one should be allowed to glorify terrorists and terrorism. It is not hidden from anyone that Congress party and its leaders have in past came to rescue and support of the students of JNU who were playing in hands of enemy country and were raising objectionable and anti-Indian slogans. Such anti-national activities of JNU students should be condemned by one and all but Congress party is silent on anti-national behavior and activities of misguided students. One fails to understand as to why Congress party and its leaders are silent on anti-Indian activities and anti-Indian slogans. It seems that the Congress has a soft corner for those JNU students who are indulged in anti-Indian activities. Congress party should introspect its role so for as its soft attitude towards the students of JNU who indulge in anti-national activities. Thus, congress needs to mend its ways and not play in hands of anti-nationals. Congress is today a sinking ship because of playing in the hands of the anti-nationals. Congress does not feel shy of denouncing everything which glorifies Indian-ness. Hindutva and cultural nationalism is the eyesores for Congress and it does not leave any opportunity to blindly criticize and oppose those political parties who stand for the nation and who have love for the nationalism, patriotism and motherland. The other day Toukeer Ahmad, associated with Congress, unfortunately glorified terrorists who were killed by our gallant security forces some years back in Batla-house encounter. He has equated slain terrorists with freedom fighters and has termed them as martyrs. This is very unbecoming and sad that Congress high-command is silent on the anti-national statement of Toukeer Ahmed. It reflects that Congress is soft on terrorists and anti-nationals and has got sympathy for terrorists, which is disturbing and unfortunate development. Congress party will have to pay heavily for its sympathy with the anti nationals and for its glorification of the terrorists. The congress has not dissociated itself from the anti national statement of its associate Toukeer Ahmad and therefore Congress cannot wash its hands off from his statements. Thus it seems that the Congress passively endorses anti-Indian statement of Toukeer Ahmad as it fails from dissociating itself from his views. Congress should also condemn the terrorists killed in Batla House encounter and not question encounter itself. This is a fact that Batla House encounter is genuine and no suspension and doubt should wrongly raised over the encounter in which the terrorists were neutralized but Congress questions the genuineness of the encounter which is very sad and shameful. It said that Batla House encounter was fake and false which however is wrong. Congress should desist from showing sympathy to terrorists and anti nationals. Congress party is busy in appeasing Muslims for vote bank politics and by doing so it only earns displeasure of majority community. The appeasement of the minorities will not bail out Congress in the elections in the five states in 2022 and in general elections, scheduled to be held in 2024. It is writing on wall that the sympathy for the anti-nationals and hatred for the majority community will not translate into votes in elections. The congress party has been exposed for its soft attitude towards the terrorists and for its sympathy towards anti nationals. The congress party should come clean on its behavior and not allow itself to be seen as friendly to terrorists and should not earn displeasure of majority community. The image of the congress has got a downward shift and today it is perceived as being friendly to the anti national elements. If congress wants come back in the elections it has to work hard and wash off its terrorist-friendly and anti-Hindu image so that it becomes acceptable to Hindu majority. The congress’ anti-Hindu image and its sympathy towards terrorists will be heavily paid in elections. The grand old party of congress should make self analysis and introspection and find out the reasons for its debacle in the elections in the past and should accordingly make amends so that it becomes a mass based political party which it was after independence of the country. For this the congress party should have to overcome its anti Hindu image and its soft attitude for the terrorists. Therefore if the congress sincerely wants to stage a comeback it should be friendly to all the communities including the Hindu majority so that the party will in future be able to muster the support of the majority of the people in order to bounce to power. But the chances for congress coming to power are very bleak as at present it is a sinking boat and in the present conditions, it cannot stage a comeback. On it, Congress is glorifying terrorists only to gain the support and vote of few Muslims but minorities of the country are wise enough to be deceived by the machanations of Congress party. The congress party should stop the appeasement of the Muslims and hate and hatred for the Hindu community and should not glorify the terrorists. Thus, the party should stop glorifying the terrorists and denouncing the majority community if it wants to have some place and relevance in the electoral democracy of the country. The people who are supreme in a democracy have seen the behavior and attitude of the congress party and thus they have voted against the congress in past elections of 2014 and 2017 and there is every likelihood that the congress will be shown the door in 2022 assembly elections and 2024 general elections. In brief, Congress should desist from showing sympathy with terrorists and should stop glorifying terrorists for good of the country and for good of the party itself and should remember that glorification of terrorists is simply unacceptable.
(The author is retired Education Officer and Columnist).