On Shaheed Diwas, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and the Government of India perhaps thought it would be expedient to take part in Pakistan Day celebrations, both in Islamabad as well as Pakistani Embassy in New Delhi. An inexcusable blunder has been committed even as the rogue nation called Pakistan indulges in ceasefire violations and continues with its support to terrorists.
What is Pakistan Day? The Muslim League conducted its Annual Session in Lahore from 22nd to 24th March, 1940. In this session, Mohammad Ali Jinnah described why Hindus and Muslims cannot live together in a country. Hence, a resolution was passed on 23rd March for the creation of an Islamic State, by breaking up India. Pakistan Day also commemorates the adoption of its constitution on 23rd March 1956. It may seem amusing, but Pakistan indeed has a constitution.
On a day when the nation should have marked the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru, government officials and ‘peaceniks’ were seen celebrating Pakistan Day in the national capital. The ‘Aman Ki Asha’ brigade gave sound-bytes to news channels yesterday describing how it was not possible to change neighbors and that exchanging pleasantries is the only way forward. In Islamabad meanwhile, senior Indian diplomats and officials were seen seated in the front rows to witness the military parade. The Pakistan High Commissioner was rushed back to New Delhi earlier on Thursday, even as Pakistan had claimed that they will not send him until India takes steps in relation to the ‘harassment’ meted out to him. In times when Indian diplomats are being ill-treated in Pakistan, taking part in Pakistan Day is extremely distasteful.
Things at the border meanwhile, are not as friendly as they may seem in Delhi and Islamabad. The rogue nation resorted to unprovoked firing in Pulwama just last week, killing five civilians, including children. Six security personnel were martyred in Kupwara last week in a gunfight between terrorists and armed forces. Just last night, a major gun battle ensued between security forces and terrorists in Dooru area in Anantang, South Kashmir.
Many of you might not remember, but 23rd March 2003 was witness to the bloodthirsty terrorists of Pakistan massacring 24 Kashmiri Pandits. Among those killed were two toddlers. The terrorists used up the entire magazines of their rifles to kill the two children. The Government of India might have forgotten the Nadimarg massacre, but we haven’t. Indian government officials wined and dined with separatists in Delhi. They stood up for the Pakistani Anthem as our citizens are killed day in and day out. Aasiya Andrabi proudly unfurls the Pakistani Flag in Srinagar. We expected the BJP government to take a tougher stand than this. The government has saddened us this time. They need to watch their steps henceforth, and keep our martyrs in mind while dealing with Pakistan.