THE dictionary meaning of Euphoria: ‘A feeling of great happiness’ (Oxford). In computer dictionaries, one finds words like ecstasy as its synonym. Diplomacy per dictionary: 1) The management of relations between countries; 2) Skill and tact in dealing with people. I am not teaching anyone English here, but considering the recent childish behaviour of politicos in Bharat, it seems essential that people of Bharat teach them not only the real meaning of both Euphoria and Diplomacy, but also get them practice it.
Every time there is any Cricket match between Bharat and Pakistan, Bharat’s government becomes a jumping Jack! Ignoring the current status of relations between the two countries, ignoring the vicious war like jehadi attacks waged against Bharat by Pakistan and constant infiltrations, continuing with the euphoria of Cricket as the basis of ‘good’ relations with Pakistan can not be termed ‘diplomatic’. I have no doubt about the brilliance of our IFS officers – they have been alerting on Pak’s dirty designs on Bharat, but politicos have their own vote bank compulsions putting nation’s security at risk. When people like me say such a thing then the opportunistic politicos and lop-sided media paint it as if we oppose cricket. We do not. We are proud of our cricketers and all other sportspersons. But using any popular activity – cricket, music (gazal, sufi etc.), films, paintings – for filling up the trust deficit is truly childish. It has been tried before and failed umpteen times and yet trying the same things again is foolish and can not be ever termed diplomatic wisdom or tact.
Last time, Pakistan pushed David Headley and Sajid Meer to ‘watch cricket’, they stayed back and Bharat watched their cruel jehad on 26/11! Headley spent a long time with a famous film director’s son, but due to proximity to some politicos that son is not in jail when just because some accused (not convict!) names someone from Hindu organisation-immediately he and the organisation are declared ‘saffron terrorists’! This too is euphoric in a way as the level of ecstasy that Bharat saw on the faces of some politicos’ faces while terming Hindus ‘terrorists’ was such that Hindu majority will never vote for them ever again! It was their domestic Euphoric Diplomacy for their vote bank! Now for cricket match 5000 visas have been given to Pakistanis. No track of those who did not return from the last time’s list and this time new 5000! Any diplomatic channels should be used, true, but not at own nation’s risk!
Trains to Pakistan, bridges to and from PoK, film stars, singers and other artists from Pakistan, cricket and tennis fans from Pakistan… How long our government will keep on fooling the nation? Ask the army and police in J&K, Assam and on the Bharat – Nepal borders or borders with Pak from the sides of Rajasthan, Punjab and Gujarat etc or even Mumbai and Delhi police how much information they have about Pak’s enmity about Bharat. Yet our euphoric diplomacy does not stop. Famous Pak singer, despite FEMA is allowed to go scot-free but Bharat’s farmers are made to pay interest on small amounts of loan – they are so harassed that they commit suicides!
Every day Pakistan and Sri Lanka have been abducting our fishing boats with our poor people on them. Not even half of them are brought back with respect in time and they rot in foreign jails. Those who are sometimes released in lieu of their fishermen, never get their precious boats back. Those boats are not some luxury fun boats; they are the living of our fishing families on the coasts! Yet there is no euphoric diplomacy there! Obviously, because it does not give TV publicity like cricket diplomacy! Many jewellery traders are in jail in China on frivolous charges. Their possessions are looted by China government but yet no serious diplomatic efforts for them! Bharat has recently watched the plight of the sailors abducted by Somalian pirates. Their families had to take to streets! Government woke up much later despite knowing that Osama Bin Laden’s jehadi network was first born in Somalia and having enough intelligence inputs that Somalian pirates have direct nexus to jehadis. Malaysian Hindus are being persecuted for years now. Seven Youth from Punjab are facing death in Saudi because our Government is apathetic to them! All these and many such cases truly need serious diplomatic interventions in time. Omission of just action when needed immediately is direct injustice. Choosing to make big noise of cricket diplomacy because it gets big publicity and the nation’s attention is diverted from the issues like inflation and corruption is not diplomacy; it is opportunism.
Using enemy country’s euphoria for our nation’s benefit is a real smart diplomacy. Here, Pakistan is using Bharat’s cricket euphoria for their benefit. Their investigating team to be allowed to investigate 26/11 jehadi attack, they demand that they will investigate Samjauta blast are their diplomatic victories. Threat of jehadi attacks is expressed by our intelligence agencies openly on the media. Those supra-vocal politicos, who immediately oppose the West’s attacks on Libya (because Libya government is Sunni and majority is Shias but in Bharat Sunnis are majority and Shias minority), are the same politicos who persecute Hindus in Bharat for the same vote bank. Now, how can this behaviour be termed diplomatic? It is only a short term gain in vain as nation does not gain anything from it! One political party’s election-based selfishness can never be the basis of serious diplomacy – internal or external. Until the majority in Bharat stands up democratically against such opportunistic and euphoric ‘diplomacy’, these politicos will keep on putting Bharat’s security at risk!
(The writer is a renowned Cancer Surgeon & International Secretary General of VHP. Contact: drtogadia@gmail.com)
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