I have always lamented the fact that we, as a nation, are not proud enough of our Country. If we had been, then we would not have sat back and mouthed platitudes when surreptuous attack after attack was planned and executed by Pakistan using terrorists on India. Nearly 9 months on, India has not done anything on chasing the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack. Kasab was only a pawn in the larger scheme of things. And the Government is treating Afzal Guru as just another death sentenced prisoner, rather than a hard core terrorist who dared to attack the paramount seat of our democracy - the Parliament.
Now, partisan politics has resulted in the Country not even remembering or celebrating the victory achieved by our heroic soldiers in the difficult terrain of Kargil a decade ago.
India beat back a determined Pakistan attack in a war that lasted two months in 1999. 530 soldiers were killed and more than 700 injured. With government deciding not to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this victory (purportedly because it happened during the BJP regime), the armed forces feel let down and are downright dejected. Already there is considerable disenchantment amongst our soliders on the latest pay commission awards and government deciding to ignore the one rank-one pension demand.
The Congress Party MP, Rashid Alvi said he saw no reason to celebrate the Kargil victory. "Kargil isn't a thing to be celebrated. The war was fought within our territory. We didn't even come to know when the Pakistani army crossed over and built bunkers inside our territory. It's only the NDA which may celebrate," he said. If Alvi's views were shocking, former minister of state for home Sri Prakash Jaiswal couldn't even remember when the Kargil war was fought and won. Asked about Vijay Diwas, he wanted to know when the day was celebrated.
Ironically, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is away in France to take part in the 220th anniversary of the Bastille Day in Paris. But neither he nor any senior government official has time to participate in the 10th anniversary of the victory over Pakistan in Kargil. No major official functions have been planned. The day falls on July 26th and is celebrated as 'Vijay Divas' by the Army. The political leaders and the powers that be have given it a go by.
Our Army, since independence, has played a stellar role in defending our Country from threats, internal and external. Unlike our neighbours, our army has never had political ambitions. They have carried out their task with a professional dignity silently and diligently. The sacrifices made by unknown jawans ensures that we enjoy the freedom, which we take for granted. We need to remember their sacrifices by remembering them at every single opportunity. That should be our way of saying 'Thank you' in a grateful manner.
They are not asking for the moon. All they are asking the rulers and us is a little understanding, empathy and recognition of the sacrifices made by them.
It is not too much!!!
