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In the last three months the northeast has become very porous and volatile. The number of innocent killings is on the rise. The activities of the terrorist outfits are now more in the open than ever before. Bangladesh is abetting the insurgency. And not a single state in the northeast is today free from turmoil.
The People'sWar Group in Andhra Pradesh is now working overground. They held a massive show of strength in the state capital. Muslim terrorist organisations have also found a safer haven of late, in Hyderabad.
The Naxalite war-mongers, helped by the indulgence of the Congress state government, are now spreading their tentacles to new areas. Chhattisgarh state has suddenly become a target. So has Jharkhand. Naxals are trying to enter Orissa in a big way. In all these states, non-Congress state governments are having a harrowing time, and the Centre is acting pussyfooted on all such divisive intransigences.
The Pakistani journalists in Kashmir received a red carpet welcome, thanks to the loosening of purse strings by the Centre. University students in Srinagar were collected to raise pro-Pakistan, anti-India slogans to sufficiently orchestrate the celebrated visit. The Indian media toed the line, to please the Paki counterparts, who must have been amused to see that they have more friends in India, then even in their own Pakistan. Not a day passes without a new theory on how to solve the Kashmir. All these involve only India making concessions.
The latest is the Andorra model. Pray, what is this model? Any why, in recent years, we have all kinds of models, and that is the latest sunrise industry under the new globalisers.
But this one is for real. The Andorra, we are told, involves ?only giving an independent constitution and a near autonomy to Kashmir.? The defence of such a state is the responsibility of the two contending countries. Andorra, by the way, is a small principality on the borders of Spain and France, on which an agreement was reached in 1993. The new theory has also originated, understandably, in Pakistan.
Congress has always been soft on terrorism. Even on Pota repeal, it was reported that the government was also prompted by a so-called goodwill delegation from Pakistan that came to India a few weeks after the UPA was sworn in. Like in Kashmir, the foreign countries are eager to get a toehold in the Northeast.
A Centre, that cannot hold, a Centre that promotes centrifugal tendencies, a Centre that works overtime to create disaffection among communities and regions, weakens the national fabric. And in the process makes it convenient for separatists to have a field day. As in Andhra, and now in Maharashtra, they may widen their support in the initial stage, but this is nothing short of creating a Frankenstein, which is bound to boomerang.
Patriotism: A dirty word?
These days it is unfashionable to talk of patriotism. Media reacts to any suggestion of national interest with unconcealed derision. Xenophobia, inferiority complex, lack of self-confidence, colonial hangover, memories of the past?these are the expressions in the media to run down people talking for the nation.
True, in the global village of their idea, there has to be only a few moneylenders, a few feudal warlords, their allies, and cohorts, and the large exploited lot who make up the great village.
And patriotism is the preserve of the rich and powerful nations. They can fight their elections, frame their policies, fix their trade to protect their national interest, but developing countries cannot afford the luxury of patriotism. The Big Brother will not take it.
So you cannot have any national secret, should not entertain macroeconomic planning or market regulations to protect the domestic segment. If you attempt it, they will call it provocative protectionism.
Even if the UN calls it illegal, powerful countries can attack and subjugate other countries, like the village goon.
Various people have various definitions of national interest. But, in stronger countries the definitions narrow down and their supreme national interest becomes non-negotiable. It is to this state India has to progress, not, cavel others? interests which we promote as ours. Patriotism is not a dirty word. All nations grow up to discover it for growth and harmony.
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