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| Disciplined Army as the target of seditionists | | Geelani Appreciates Habibullah | | Rustam
JAMMU, Dec 29: Tehrik-e-Hurriyat chairman and a well-known India-baiter and protagonist of Pakistani Syed Ali Shah Geelani yesterday appreciated and criticised simultaneously National Minorities Commission (NMC) chairman Wajahat Habibullah, who held important positions in Jammu & Kashmir for years before taking up assignments in New Delhi. He appreciated Habibullah because he on day before yesterday criticised former Army chief General V K Singh for his participation in the protests which are being organized in Delhi since December 17 against the Congress-led UPA Government and Delhi Police Commissioner for their failure to secure the life of womenfolk and pass stringent laws against rapists. The gang-rape of poor 23-year-old Damini on December 16 in a public bus triggered massive protests in Delhi and elsewhere in the country. The rape victim fought for her life in the Singapore's Mt. Elizabeth Hospital, but the brave died last night causing more anger and anguish. The nation today observes "Black Saturday" and pays tributes to the victim. Her death has shocked the entire country.
Geelani appreciated Habibullah because the latter had criticised General Singh for his failure to take action against his soldiers who allegedly raped Kashmiri women. "In his (Gen Singh's) case, I am sorry to say so, he was Commander-in-Chief of the Army. There are, at least in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, massive allegations of rape against Army. Were they ever enquired into? Was an effort made to bring justice? Here was a case of rape. Regrettable, yes. But if he wants to join in condemnation of the government against that, has he taken into account various ramifications of that," Habibullah had said in an interview. Appreciating Habibullah, Geelani described as "confession" his statement as "better late than never" and accused the Army and paramilitary forces operating in Kashmir of using "rape as a weapon of war".
Geelani criticised Habibullah saying that it has become customary with the retired government officials to reveal the truth and that they would watch the atrocities as mute spectators while in service. "Almost every high official after his retirement from services issue such statements only to gain credibility. It is not only case of (Gen) Singh, even Wajahat Habibullah during his tenure could have raised his voice against these rape incidents when he was top official," he said in a statement from Delhi, where he spends most of his time during winter months. "Now time has come for Wajahat Habibullah to rise to the occasion and raise his voice against the crimes committed against women in Kashmir and get the culprits punished under law," Geelani also said making use of the opportunity provided by Habibullah, who condemned the atrocities, including rape, allegedly committed by Army personnel in Kashmir as NMC chairman or in his official capacity.
The issue is not what Geelani said while reacting to the Habibullah's indictment of the Army and paramilitary forces involved in anti-insurgency operations in Kashmir. The real issue is what Habibullah said in his official capacity. People are right when they say that India is not afraid of Kashmiri separatists and extremists and Pakistan and that they can be tackled in no time and that the real danger to the Indian State is from those who are wrecking the polity from within by making statements and levelling charges against those putting in their all in order to secure the borders and cleanse the trouble-spots of separatists and terrorists as well as by accusing the government (of which they are part) of violating "human rights" of subversives and not allowing the anti-national forces to achieve what they want. When will the Government of India rise to the occasion and defend national interests by bringing to justice persons like Habibullah who misuse their official position to paint the Indian nation black? |
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