Alarm bells for Munir : Revolt in Pak Occupied Kashmir
There is widespread revolt in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir during the last three days with people chasing away and beating up army soldiers on the streets. The Awami Action Committee has declared a fight to the finish.
Eight people have died so far and more than 100 injured in street violence sparked by firing from Pakistan Rangers. Thousands of people have started marching from towns, villages and hilly hamlets towards PoK’s capital Muzaffarabad from all directions. Huge containers were used to block the march, but the protesters threw the containers into the rivers.
Awami Action Committee leaders like Shaukat Mir are alleging that Asim Munir’s army has clamped ban on media coverage after ordering the armed to fire on protesters. The ground reality of ‘Azad Kashmir’ is now open.
The embers of revolt were already burning over the last several years, but on September 29, when Asim Munir sent a thousand soldiers to Muzaffarabad, it blew up. Soldiers fired on peaceful protesters killing two and injured dozens. In the beginning, the protest was confined to Muzaffarabad and Mirpur, but later the entire PoK joined the movement. People are openly saying there is no difference between the army and terrorist outfits.
Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, exiled PoK leader now based in Switzerland, has alleged that the ISI is using brute force to crush the movement, but the people will not rest till real freedom is achieved.
When the movement began, the demands were for basic facilities and against price rise, but now the protesters want the puppet government installed by the army be thrown out.
The voices of revolt are a warning signal for Asim Munir. It has caused a setback to his plans. PoK, which was being used by Pakistani army as launchpad for pushing armed infiltrators into India, is now reverberating with anti-army slogans. Asim Munir may not be getting a sound sleep at night.
The visuals from PoK are quite clear. People’s patience is fast running out, soldiers are firing on innocent civilians. Protesters are now openly saying they won’t allow the army and ISI to send armed infiltrators from PoK to Kashmir. Asim Munir will now have to find alternate methods to deal with the crisis.
RSS@100 : How Modi realized dreams of Sangh Parivar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in the centenary celebration of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which completed 100 years of its existence on Vijayadashami this year.
Modi released a Rs 100 commemorative coin depicting Bharat Mata and the national emblem and a special postage stamp.
In his speech, Modi said, he is proud of being a swayamsevak of RSS, which has been engaged in character building and uniting society, right from the dark days of Partition till today. “Nation first” is the motto of RSS, he said.
Modi spoke from the depth of his heart on what he learnt as a swayamsevak and what he observed over the last seven decades.
He said, his government has decided to work on mission mode to tackle the problems arising from demographic change. At the same time, he reminded people that RSS has always worked for eradicating the evils of caste system and untouchability in Hindu society.
One can have differences with the ideology of RSS, but nobody can raise a finger at its patriotism. For the last 100 years, RSS had been the target of abuses and allegations. It was alleged that RSS was behind the assassination of Gandhi, it was also alleged that RSS is outrightly anti-Muslim, but today Prime Minister Modi spelled out in detail the humanitarian service and patriotism of RSS.
For the first time, any Prime Minister in India spoke about the heritage of RSS and its contribution to society.
What bigger gift can be than this fulsome praise by the Prime Minister for RSS in its 100th year? Throughout his life, Modi worked tirelessly as a pracharak of RSS and when he became Prime Minister, he fulfilled the Sangh Parivar’s dreams by abrogating Article 370 and building the Ram Janmasthan Temple in Ayodhya. Who else but Modi can be the best ‘pracharak’ for RSS in its 100th year?
Why people of PoK want to join India?
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said, there can be talks with Pakistan only on two issues: handing over wanted terrorists and return of Pak Occupied Kashmir to India.
He said, “I believe the people of Pak Occupied Kashmir are part of our own family, and most of them in PoK have a deep connection with India, like the relations between Maharana Pratap and his brother Shakti Singh. There are only a few in PoK who have been misguided by Pakistan….Very soon, I hope, people living in PoK will declare themselves as part of India and there will be no need to fight a war on this issue…”
He however warned Pakistan that Indian armed forces are in a state of readiness and any terrorist attack in India will invite a strong military action.
Why did Rajnath Singh say that the people of PoK want to get themselves liberated from the shackles of Pakistan?
There are regular protests in PoK against Pakistan and they want freedom. People in PoK and Pakistan are buying ‘atta’(flour) at the rate of Rs 800 per five kg. There are frequent power breakdowns and water shortage in cities.
There is a viral video of Pakistani actress Hina Khawaja Bayat in which she is saying, “there is no water in the washrooms of Karachi airport .. People do not have water for wuzu and namaz.. There is no water even for children. Fakhar Kis Baat Ka? (What is there to be proud of?) “. She recorded the video standing in front of AirDial said to be the Pride of Pakistan.
On the other hand, India is on the verge of becoming the world’s fourth largest economy and more than 80 crore Indians get free foodgrains. Power connections have reached almost every household and people in villages are getting piped water. Jammu and Kashmir is marching fast on the path of progress. Anybody who finds this sharp contrast between India and Pakistan, will want to leave Pakistan. There is no need to overstate this.
Congress should learn from Owaisi
After Pakistan suffered losses in its four-day-long conflict with India, the enemy is now facing reverses on the diplomatic front. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has travelled to Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Iran and Tajikistan to garner support, but Indian all-party delegations are exposing Pakistan’s lies in most of the world capitals.
Among the most vocal is All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who is travelling with the delegation to Islamic countries like Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Algeria.
In Riyadh, Owaisi told a meeting with Saudi leaders that there cannot be any talks with Pakistan unless it stops sponsoring terrorism.
Owaisi said, it was Prime Minister Modi who took the initiative of extending his hand of friendship to Pakistan by visiting Lahore, but this was followed by terrorist attacks in India. He said, Modi showed his large heartedness in inviting Pakistani military experts to visit the scene of terror attack, and yet Pakistan did not change its tack.
Owaisi said, the doors for talks with Pakistan are now closed after the Pahalgam massacre. The AIMIM chief said, Pakistan is trying to target India in the name of Islam, but the Muslim world should know that 24 crore Muslims in India are today happy and they are proud of being Indians.
Owaisi said, Pakistan will stop sponsoring terrorism only when the Muslim world stops giving funds to Pakistan. He mentioned how Pakistan was exposed by FATF (Financial Action Task Force) when it first claimed that 26/11 Mumbai attack accused Sajid Mir was dead, but later admitted that he was alive.
Owaisi said, the main culprits of 26/11 attacks are moving scot-free in Pakistan and most of them have been convicted for money laundering and not terrorism. He demanded that Pakistan should be put in the FATF grey list immediately.
The manner in which Owaisi exposed Pakistan’s lies in foreign capitals has stunned the enemy. While Pakistani news channels did not air Owaisi’s speech, they are playing up comments by Congress leaders like Jairam Ramesh. The Congress leader had remarked that while the murderers of Pahalgam are moving scot-free, Indian MPs are moving around in world capitals.
Is the Congress trying to compare its leaders with terrorists? Congress leaders like Shashi Thatoor, Anand Sharma and Manish Tewari are part of the seven all-party delegations which have gone to world capitals to present India’s case.
If it is a slip of tongue on part of Jairam Ramesh, then he should withdraw his remark. Congress could have asked, why the murderers of Pahalgam have not been caught. It should have at least praised the toil put in by MPs from different parties in projecting India’s stand. It would be better if Congress at least makes this minor contribution in the national interest.