DMK Forces To Ponder Over The Afzal Question

The mask finally came out today. It became clear to everyone within India and outside that this Indian government handles its diplomatic relations on the basis of internal politics and aspirations. The Dravida Munetra Kazhagam has withdrawn support to the UPA government led by Manmohan Singh over the issue of alleged killing of LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil) by the Sri Lankan establishment. The open secret lies unravelled now.

It would be interesting to listen to those voices, which questioned the validity of Pakistan's National Assembly in passing a resolution condemning hanging of Afzal Guru. Our Parliament wasted no time in giving a befitting reply by passing another resolution condemning the Afzal resolution of Pakistan's National Assembly. And, everyone including this writer has reliably learnt that the DMK under M Karunanidhi voted favouring the resolution passed by Parliament. Now, where is the so-called ethical or moral difference between the equations.

We generally elect our leaders on the basis of our ability to believe or disbelieve in them, and we judge our leaders on the basis of their past (the most recent) performance. Sometimes, their intent also plays a significant role in the election process. Now, let's think separately the intent and performance of our political class in the aforesaid two cases, and then have a look at the real diplomatic and political spectre.

The Afzal Resolution
 
National Assembly of Pakistan passed that resolution because of two broad reasons: one, Afzal's connection to Kashmir (and attack on Indian Parliament) and two, religious appeal, which played the key role in partition and subsequent political confusion over the status, standing and stature of Jammu and Kashmir.

First of all, Pakistan feels that Kashmir is an Islamic problem and that's why an unfinished agenda of the partition and hence, it has its stake in deciding the fate and future of the state. It has fought not less than three wars on this issue, and has been supporting, helping, channelizing, designing and propagating terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and rest of India.

So, when someone from the same school of thought carries out or allegedly helps carrying out an act of terror, Pakistan is bound to have some hand in the act and stake in the future of the same person. It may present a different face to the world but within, it knows the reality. Hence, Pakistan’s resolution on Afzal Guru, whose hanging was confirmed by the Supreme Court and executed by the Indian government.

The resolution was viewed as an affront on India by millions of electors or stakeholders in our democracy. Sensing their mood, the elected ones showcased their intent in snubbing Pakistan with a counter-resolution asserting that "Jammu and Kashmir has been and shall always remain the integral part of India", that hanging of Afzal Guru.was an internal matter of India, and also that Afzal Guru was a part of the conspiracy hatched in Pakistan and sponsored by Pakistani establishment that saw attack on Parliament. Isn't there some inherent contradiction in our approach?

The Tamil Angle
 
Now, consider the government's stand on Sri Lanka's approach in dealing with remnants of LTTE, which was a proscribed outfit in India till it existed in force. The island nation's government has been accused of committing war crimes on the surrendered members of LTTE and the Tamil population of the Elam region. It is a serious human rights issue of international importance. But, it is happening within the sovereign boundaries of Sri Lanka and hence, an internal matter of that country. But then, the population involved is Tamil, which evokes emotional appeal across the international waters in an Indian state.

Tamil Nadu is under AIADMK rule while DMK is in opposition and so, quite naturally it feels the pulse of Tamil people's emotion and anger. The same DMK has been a partner in all crimes with other UPA partners at the centre. It could easily dictate the matters vis-a-vis India's southern neighbour in past nine years. But, in the wake of Italian marine goof up, better sense has started prevailing over the UPA government. So, after going far ahead of expressing concern over human rights' issue in Sri Lanka, the Manmohan Singh government has finally decided to see whether antagonizing the island nation is in India's favour given the Chinese propensity in the region.

If India genuinely felt that Pakistan's National Assembly's resolution on  Afzal was an attack on India's sovereignty, can it forget the same principle in dealing with Sri Lanka simply because DMK is part of the ruling coalition? And, if India can interfere with Sri Lanka (to safeguard its strategic interest) why can't Pakistan do same with India? Also, why should India choose/ pick the nation with which it has to interfere; simply put, why does India choose not to apply pressure on Maldieves, Italy, Nepal or Bangladesh for that matter to safeguard its strategic interests, while it goes on to interfere with an essentially (going by India's own definition) internal matter of Sri Lanka?

The present politico-diplomatic-strategic state of affairs of the UPA 2.0 points to utter indecision. The government seems to be so indecisive that it has failed to realize that indecision was its earlier decision. Under the circumstances, can India be taken seriously on the matters of external affairs, outside or within?

(Un)happy International Women's Day

March 8^th every year seems to be a day of rhetoric by people of all shades; politicians, activists, journalists, students, teachers and the rest of the educated lot. They all swear to give equality in all sense of terms to women, promise to stand for their so-called legitimate rights, give themselves to oppose all attempts of stereotyping women, fight female infanticide, female foeticide, and most of all ending domestic violence and cruelty against women. The very next day, all the beautiful signs are wiped out from all the places. Even the traces are hard to find. Every year cases of violation of the body of women registered and recorded on March 8^th are forgotten the next day. So, the International Women’s Day is an occasion of mere rhetoric.

Reading the Indian Express only a couple of days ago, I found a columnist bringing to notice the practice of bride abduction in many parts of the globe taking Kyrgyzstan as its epicentre. The narration goes like this, “Just imagine your daughter is coming home from college. A gang of men suddenly grabs her, forcibly tosses her into a car even as she screams, cries, throws about her hands and legs, tries to bite her abductors, but she's overpowered. There's a bridegroom at the other end waiting to marry her. Marriage (Wedding) preparations complete with ceremonial rituals are ready to be performed, family and friends invited to enjoy the wedding reception. Only the bride is missing. So a girl is kidnapped and brought to fit the role. It's a bona fide marriage where she'll become part of a respected family, but she's given no choice.”

This is a traditional ‘ritual’ in Kyrgyizstan, where it is called Ala Kachuu, which is illegal and punishable according to law. But, none are ever prosecuted and sentenced. “NGOs working there figure ala achuu is seen in 68-75 per cent of weddings.” The author goes on to ask, how does above story strike you? This Kyrgyz ritual certainly reminds me of ancient Indian practice glorified by DDLJsque Rukmini Haran (Abduction of Rukmini) by Krishna, emulated by his disciple Arujna and carried out by thousands of others. (Raavan was an exception for he abducted a woman but did not force her to cohabit or marry.)

This is still going on in India with unsuspecting brides being lured, threatened, abducted from Jharkhand, Orissa, Assam and other economically backward states and forced to marry female foeticidal, female infanticidal brethren from Haryana, Punjab and some other parts. The Indian Express columnist was exasperated, anguished, so am I (and so are probably few millions others from the billion plus nation).


According to the United Nations Organization and UN Women, 7 out of 10 women around the world are beaten, raped, abused or mutilated in their lifetimes. However, no woman perhaps can say that she was never violated. Violence against women is universal, prevalent in all countries and settings.  According to the International Labour Organization women and girls comprise 98 percent of all people suffering ‘forcible exploitation’. 

Shockingly, this state of women on the planet earth is despite ‘the best efforts of the member states of the UNO’. Today, 187 countries out of 193 UN members have ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Besides, the United Nations Security Council now recognizes sexual violence as a deliberate tactic of war.  Notwithstanding UN’s sensitivity, more than 60 crore women live in countries that do not recognize domestic violence as a crime at all. 

So, on the rhetorical day in 2013, when the earth is striving to expand its sphere of influence beyond its own galaxy and when the question of gender equality and sense of gender sensitivity lie buried in the proverbial dark ages, I wish everyone a very happy International Women’s Day!