Melting Ice Between India and Pakistan

What will be the nature of relationship between India and Pakistan is a mystery. These relations had almost frozen after the Mumbai terror attack. But the ice appears to melt after the foreign ministers and foreign secretaries meetings. However, Pakistan's insistence was to talk on every matter, including Kashmir. But India very rightly demanded to discuss punishment to the Mumbai terror attack perpetrators. The consensus on this was difficult. This time also at the Thimpu conference, the prevailing suspension was anticipated.

An English news channel revealed that the conference proved to be disastrous. This channel termed it a deadly sin, Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir's statement that "India cannot control Hindu terrorism." He, however, said that terrorism should not be linked to any religion.

Restraint and Maturity
Now the picture that is emerging shows absolute restraint and maturity on the part of the Indian delegation. In reply to the media persons' query in Thimpu, whether India has agreed to resume talks with Pakistan combined on every issue, Indian Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, quoting William Shakespeare, said: "What is in a name?" It appears that India has agreed to talk on every matter.

For confidence-building, she also suggests several steps such as interaction between people of both countries, antiterrorism steps, control of narcotics smuggling, trading across the Line of Control, peace, security, etc. She also informed about the resolve to transform these steps into practice. She said that Pakistan had been told that the developments about the Samjhauta Express investigations would be communicated to it and that it should also reciprocate in the same manner.

Mutual Cooperation Required
It is true that mutual cooperation is required for good relationship. When asked that Pakistan has denied permission to the Indian Commission to visit there in respect of the 26/11, she said that the two countries should respect each other's laws. Pakistan has replied the note India sent on 3 February, asking for some clarifications.

Collectively, it is a positive situation, but India has clearly told Pakistan that no third-party interference on Kashmir will be allowed in talks. This indicates that the External Affairs Ministry has agreed to talk on Kashmir. This all is changing for better situation.

Congress Silence About Gujarat Issue

We are not at all surprised that despite the investigation report submitted to the Supreme Court holding Chief Minister Narendra Modi accountable in the Gujarat massacre of Muslims in 2002, the Congress has so far made no statement. We were also not surprised when Home Minister P. Chidambaram's use of the term 'Hindu terrorism' was loudly objected by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and he remained silent, whereas some Congress party men objected to linking terrorism with any religion. The entire Congress maintained silence on this objection.

Meanwhile, the media, having affiliation with the BJP and the Sangh Parivar (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and allies) had frequently been using the term 'Islamic terrorism' and 'jihadi terrorism.'

Major Scams and Corruption
We have now stopped thinking about the Congress attitude as in our considered opinion a large part of the Congress feel frightened to face the BJP or their outlook is the same. Imagine had this report indicted a Congress minister what hue and cry the BJP would have made. If you think that the Congress is silent because it is badly entangled and does not want the repeat of disturbance created by the BJP in the budget session, or the Congress is silent because of its involvement in the 2G Spectrum, the Adarsh Society, and other big scams, your assessment is almost true. However, this is not the real cause of its silence. In fact the party fears the BJP. Tell us as to where the Congress faced the BJP and if faced, what is the outcome? It was defeated by the BJP in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Himachal Pradesh, with exception to Rajasthan.

However, Rajasthan's success is not due to the efforts of the Congress party but due to the internal dispute among members of BJP Chief Minister Vijay Raje Scindia's party. As far as Gujarat is concerned, someone among the lieutenants of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi has advised them to keep silent about Modi. That adviser whosoever he may be has presented the logic that calling Modi the trader of death adversely benefited him, winning the election. Although this logic is bogus, if at all there is such an adviser, he is Modi's agent.

Point Against BJP
The real cause of defeat was the Congress party's allotment of tickets to those people who clandestinely supported the carnage in 2002. You must have noticed that the BJP getting a small point against the Congress makes a molehill out of molecule and the Congress by getting a serious point against the BJP reduces it to the size of atom, which even amazes the BJP. The Adarsh Society is one such example. The local issue of Maharashtra was hyped by the BJP across the country.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Yeddyurappa's matter was bigger than the Adarsh Society, but the Congress party played with it like a rubber toy. Acting upon the counsel of adviser to keep silent on Gujarat may cost the Congress party dearly, and like in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, it may never return to power easily.