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| An ‘ Eye for Eye’ leaves the world blind | | | Sushil Vakil
How great must be those who do well even to the evil doers, otherwise in the world there is 'tit for tat' an 'eye for an eye' leave the world blind. These prophetic lines amply apply to Mr Mufti Mohammed Syed, former Chief Minister of J and K state who is currently on a mission to defame former Governor Lt. General S.K. Sinha (retired) and Indian army by linking both to the terror accused in Malegoan blasts. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mufti Mohammed Sayeed last week alleged that the ex-Governor of the state Lieutenant General (Retd) S.K. Sinha had close links with Malegaon blast mastermind Dayanand Pandey and demanded a thorough investigation in the matter. The former Chief Minister also alleged that master mind behind Malegaon blast was Governor’’s guest in 2007.
For, true to type, Mufti demanded a through investi- gation in the role of Mr Sinha as a former army general and in the background of alleged involvement of some army officers in the Malegaon blasts. By linking Mr Sinha and Indian army to Hindu terrorists Mr Mufti has not only called the integrity of Governor into question but that of army as well. As a matter of fact, Mufti needed to exert some restraint while making such suggestions. One, as both the religious leader and army official, as of now, are only suspects. Two, Governors are constitutional functionaries and hundreds of people meet them every day. However, it is worth pondering if Mufti knew that the religious head was heading a Hindu outfit why didn't he warn the Governor? It smacks of a communal intent. Further, his suggestion that Indian army is penetrated by communal elements is nothing but a slur. The Indian army has been throughout secular and patriotic.
It is unfortunate that the PDP leader has raised the issue at a time when the authorities were desperately trying to conduct free and fair elections in the state despite the inclement weather and political turbulence in the state. Besides, the three month long agitation over the transfer of forest land to SASB had already crippled the political activities and diminished the chances of holding elections in due time. Though, such outpourings from state politicians during elections are nothing new but Mufti's sinister claims are likely to have omnious implications. There are greater chances that it may divide people's opinion into Hindu terrorism and Islamic terrorism. In fact it was least expected from a person of Mufti's stature who had served in the capacity of Home Minister of India and Chief Minister of the state, and as such he should not have associated himself with such mobilisation. It is grossly improper on his part to politicise the institution of constitutional representative. May be, Sinha was being targeted by PDP and others as he espoused the cause of Amarnath pilgrims.
Not surprisingly, Mr Sinha has turned down all allegations by declaring them as baseless. "This is totally malicious and false. And such careless things are being said on the eve of elections. So far as I am concerned, I do not know this man Pandey," Sinha told a news channel.About the allegations, Sinha said, "It is as absurd as it would be for me to say that Mufti really used to go abroad repeatedly and he was contacting Osama-bin Laden. Such baseless and irresponsible things, leave me surprised."
As tension stares Mufti in the face due to robust election campaigning by National Conference, Congress and BJP it seems he had fired the communal salvo to raise the communal passions like the BJP turned the arrest of Sadhvi and other accused in the Malegoan blasts into an emotive campaign to garner Hindu votes. Same yard stick has been applied by Mufti to win Muslim votes in the state. Added to this fact, Mufti left no stone unturned to defame the Indian army by rushing into ill thought conclusions.
As things stand, PDP's double standards on terrorism are nothing new. It is ironic that while Mufti has shown concern for Hindu terrorism but has remained undisturbed over the involvement of some boys from Kerala in terrorist activities in J and K. He had been totally non-comittant when four Keralites were killed by the security forces in Kupwara district on October 7, 2008. Moreover, there is no denying the fact that as Chief Minister Mufti had been more worried about the kith and kins of those who had either crossed over to Pakistan for terrorist training or had been killed by the security forces. Even he had taken it upon himself to see that compensation cheques were delivered at their doorsteps. Apart from that the father-daughter duo had been pressing the government of India to accept and allow safe entry to those youths who had crossed over to Pakistan for training. Why shouldn't be they too labelled as traitors as they sympathise and struggle for terrorists and their harbingers? It is well said that those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones at others.
Ideally, investigations must lead to conclusions, not the other way round. By his irresponsible insinuations, Mufti's image has taken a severe beating. More than anything else, his baseless allegations look nothing than a political stunt. |
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