Intention is right, method
is condemnable
The black-paint
attack in Mumbai by Shiv Sena's activists on Sudheendra Kulkarni for organising the
launch of a book written by former Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud
Kasuri was not a civilized way of protesting. There were better ways of
protesting. The reason for their protest was justified. But their style of
protesting was absolutely wrong. They attacked their own person. What did they
gain by that? The thing is the attack was evidently meant to break the spirit
of Kulkarni, but it only hardened his resolve: refusing to be intimidated, he
faced the media with the paint still on his face, showing up the Sena for its
petty-mindedness and cowardliness. The black paint only defaced its own image. They
have not blackened the face of Kulkarni only. They have blackened the faces of 120
crore Indians.
Former Indian
diplomats are of the opinion that Shiv Sena has done damage to bilateral
relations of the two countries. Now why the assumption that such an incident
would damage the bilateral ties between the two nations, when in reality no
such relationship seems to exist? Evidently, the Pakistani Ex-Foreign Minister
will gain in selling the book in India because of the controversy. But he never
seemed to have regretted the way his country had conducted itself in its
relationship with India in the past and there will not be any change of heart
in the future as well, if the noise Pakistan is making ahead of Sharif-Obama
meeting is any indication.
This event was
organized in Mumbai. Mumbai probably is the most wronged city by Pakistan. Its
offenders Dawood Ibrahim, Tiger Memon have found sanctuary in Pakistan. 26/11
trial has pretty much stopped. Why should Mumbai welcome anybody who represents
Pakistan? Kasuri is the same man who had feigned ignorance when 24 Kashmiri
Pandits were killed in cold blood and was emphatic about Dawood's absence in
Pakistan or for that matter Gulam Ali. Unless the elite in Pakistan feel the
discomfiture they will continue to look other way when boys from impoverished
homes are used as cannon fodder by indoctrinating name. The feudal culture is
entrenched in Pakistan. It is high time these feudal elite are shaken up. For
Gulam Ali it is yet another commercial engagement. He is reported to have told
that he loves Khafir's money but not Khafirs. He made this statement to an
Indian official whom he mistook as Pakistani.
Pakistanis are no
better. When there was an idea to name a chowk in Lahore city after Bhagat
Singh, some Pakistani political parties protested. They could not tolerate a
place being named after a freedom fighter from India.
What is the point
in blaming Shiv Sena? But just think of the behaviour of Pakistanis. They could
not tolerate a Hindu being Chief Justice of Pakistan. Then what is the point in
giving importance to the former Foreign Minister of Pakistan? He had come to
India to business for his book. The entire episode could have been avoided had
the book releasing function was not held in Mumbai. Shiv Sena has been warning
that it would not allow any Pakistani citizen holds a function in Mumbai. That
is why it did not allow a Pakistani Gazal Singer to perform in Mumbai. BJP
knows it and yet it allowed former Pakistan Foreign Minister to release his
book in Mumbai. Why this function was held in Mumbai? Has it already been
released in Pakistan? Would Indo Pakistan relationship improve by this function?
Why should we have allowed Kasuri to release his book in India? Did he act in
India's favour when he was foreign minister? All these questions are relevant
and must be answered.
But the worst thing is that Indians have
insulted another Indian in front of a Pakistani. This is unfortunate. Former
Pakistani foreign Minister must have laughed to himself after seeing this
tamasha. Smearing our own people with black paint in the presence of a
foreigner is to be strongly condemned.
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