Convergence Of Challenges

Three incidents, each important but of varying significance to our country'sprestige, stability and national interest have occurred since this morning.Whether examined, singly or collectively, they constitute a troublingconvergence of challenges. These events are decidedly aggressive in design, intheir import, and are against the Indian nation.

The bomb blast in front of Srinagar Assembly, though of a considerably lowerlethality is a reminder of the attack on Srinagar Assembly in October 1, 2001.Today's grenade attack (resulting in injury to a CRPF jawan) occurred whenGhulam Nabi Azad, the Chief Minister of J & K was to seek a vote ofconfidence. This vote had been occasioned by the PDP's withdrawal of support,which in turn, had been caused by the Shri Amarnath Yatra Shrine Board matter.Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, the present CM, has now resigned from the Assemblywithout facing the Assembly and obtaining a confidence vote.

It needs to be reiterated that the principal demand of the PDP was thecancellation of the land for use by pilgrims, for just 45 to 60 days out of 365for this annual yatra. The J &K Government acquiesced to this unjustifieddemand of the PDP, and of other elements in the Srinagar valley.

Despite this surrender, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad failed to have the writ of theJ&K Government run. The PDP got its demand, and as a bonus got their allyout of office, too. On an artificially incited issue the Congress in theprocess, sacrificed its Chief Minister, gave in to an untenable demand of thePDP, and lost their government and their prestige.

What kind of statecraft is this on the part of the Congress party; the PrimeMinister of India; and the union home ministry on this sensitive issue in thestate of Jammu & Kashmir?

The third matter is of a suicide car bomb attack against the compound wall ofthe Indian embassy in Kabul this morning. This has resulted, reportedly, in thedeath of 30 people including our Defence Attache and Political Counsellor, andabout 140 have been injured. This occurred even as several Afghans were queuingfor obtaining visa's. In the wake of other intimidatory attacks against Indiancitizens, what has become a matter of mounting concern to us is the governmentof India's total immobility of thought and action in the face of suchchallenging internal and international questions.

We demand of the Prime Minister to clarify what is more important to him, to theCongress party and to all their supporters from various parties: Is it thestability, internal order in India and rational national policy, plus theprestige of India their concern or a timid acquiescence in the face of mountingchallenges.

A routine statement of concern and condolence etc by the Prime Minister wouldnow be a meaningless exercise. The government must explain its policy in full,and to the satisfaction to the citizen's of India.